By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

CALERA – The Chelsea Hornets rallied from a first-quarter deficit to claim a lead at the half on their way to a 74-60 win over the Montevallo Bulldogs in the first round of the Shelby County tournament at Calera High School Dec. 15.

The Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run in the first quarter to claim a 24-16 lead headed into the second.

Chelsea responded with a run of their own scoring 11 unanswered points to tie the game 29-29 with over two minutes left in the half. Malik Abrams gave the Hornets a two-point lead and Austin Washington added a basket at the buzzer for a 35-33 Chelsea lead at the half.

The Hornets pulled away in the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 50-46 lead into the final eight minutes.

Chelsea held Montevallo to 14 points in the fourth quarter while converting on 10-for-13 from the free throw line to seal the win.

Washington led all scorers with 21 points for Chelsea. Ethan Brown added 20 points while Abrams finished with 10 points.

Dametrius Conwall led Montevallo with 20 points. Trevor Chotham scored 15 points and Antwain Cunningham finished with 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Chelsea will face Thompson Dec. 15 at 4:30 at Oak Mountain High School in the second round of the tournament. Montevallo will face Westminster at 3 p.m. Dec. 20 at a location to be determined.