By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

FORT PAYNE – Less than a week after taking part in the Shelby County basketball tournament, which took place at Shelby County, Calera, Montevallo and Oak Mountain High Schools, Briarwood Christian School was back on the road, as the Lions traveled to Fort Payne to take part in the Wills Valley Shoot Out at Fort Payne High School.

The Lady Lions, less than three days removed from losing just their second game of the season to Thompson in the finals of the girls’ Shelby County tournament championship, dropped their third game of the year to Anniston in the first round of the Wills Valley Shoot Out by a final of 51-40, marking the first time this season that the Lady Lions have lost two games in a row.

Senior Shelly Proctor paced the Lion swith 14 points while Ellie Tarence and Jennie Reese each piled up 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The boys, bounced in the first round of the Shelby County tournament thanks to a last-second shot by Montevallo, won their first game of the tournament over Huntsville by a final of 71-55. The Lions jumped on Huntsville early, and amassed a 17-3 lead after the end of the first quarter. From that point, the Panthers played Briarwood relatively evenly, but could not climb back into contention.

Thomas Collier led Briarwood with 20 points while Carson Donnelley also added 19 for Briarwood to combine for over half of all the Lions’ points.

Briarwood will play Scottsboro for a chance at the title game tomorrow, while the Lady Lions will also play Scottsboro in the consolation bracket.