By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

MOBILE – The Briarwood Christian girls tennis team finished 11 points shy of a state title on April 25. Walker High School won the girls title with 71 team points, while Briarwood finished second with 60. The Lady Lions did have the most individual state champions, however, with a total of four from the girls’ team and one from the boys’ team.

Judd Tarance won the second court singles state championship, while Kateleigh Calloway won the fourth court and Callie Ware won the sixth. Calloway and Katelyn Bussey also pulled out a win in the third court doubles championship en route to their 60-point performance. Tarance defeted Anna-Quinn Weaver of Decatur in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Calloway defeated Abby Hayes of Walker in the closest finals match, 7-6, 6-3. Ware defeated Beverly Fite of Decatur 7-6, 6-1. The tandem of Calloway and Bussey defeated Olivia Hayes and Holley Spivey in a come-from behind effort 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The Briarwood boys finished fourth in their state appearance, just two places out of third and only five points away from first place Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Thomas Collier was the only individual champion for the boys, beating Winston Smith on the second court in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. The boys team also won the team sportsmanship award for the 6A boys’ meet.

The five individual champions were more than any other school in 6A.