Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

VALLEY – A little over 48 hours ago, the Briarwood Christian Lions experienced the agony of defeat after losing to the visiting Shelby County Wildcats in a barn burner on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Now, Briarwood is flying high once again after a 57-45 win over the Valley Rams on the road at Valley High School in Class 5A sub-regionals on Friday, Feb. 7.

The game saw three impressive performances from Clara Crawford, Emma Kerley and AT Baker. In fact, the trio combined for 47 of the Lions’ 57 points.

Crawford was, simply put, everywhere in the matchup with Valley. Her final statline saw the junior put together a performance for the ages.

Crawford finished with a double-double, nabbing 21 points and 18 rebounds. She was simply unstoppable in the paint, creating second-chance opportunities for the Lions and converting plenty of post opportunities.

She also finished with two blocks and two steals, impacting the game with active hands on the defensive side of the ball.

Not to be outdone, Kerley also had a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a dominant performance. Kerley also broke the all-time scoring record for the Lions’ girls’ basketball program with a free throw in the first half.

She also showed off her distribution skills against the Rams, dishing out six assists. Like Crawford, she was a pest defensively, accumulating two blocks and a steal.

While Baker did not crack double-figures, her impact went beyond the stat sheet. She finished with six points and seven assists, and made important plays possession after possession for Briarwood.

The three-headed monster of Crawford, Kerley and Baker was too much for Valley, who still managed to keep the game close despite the performances from the three Lions.

Kayden Dooley scored 22 points for the Rams, leading all players in scoring in a losing effort. Dooley exploded in the third quarter, scoring 13 of her 22 in the period, and was also complemented well by Macasha Tucker, who had 12 in the game.

Dooley and Tucker were the only two players from Valley to score in double figures.

The game actually began with the Rams having the advantage, as they headed to the second quarter up 13-11. Dooley started strong early, scoring five points, while Kyla Williams scored her only four points of the game in the first.

Crawford got to the line early and often in the first, scoring three points from the line. Sasha Munikar added a 3-pointer in the first to help pace Briarwood’s offense.

The second saw the Lions begin to regain control of the game. They outscored the Rams 14-10 to head to halftime up 25-23. Crawford scored 10 of Briarwood’s 14 points, getting plenty of paint chances and trips to the charity stripe.

Kerley also began to be more aggressive, heading to the free throw line four times but going 1-for-4.

Outside of a two-point basket from Jamiah Johnson, Dooley and Tucker were the only sources of offense for Valley in the second quarter.

The third saw Briarwood again outscore the Rams, this time to the tune of a 20-18 margin to head to the final quarter up 45-41.

Kerley had 10 in the third, converting from the line and the field alike. Sarah Travis and Munikar combined for five points in the quarter. While they were not necessarily the top scorers of the game, the hustle plays they made in the third that led to points helped give the Lions the victory.

Outside of Dooley’s 13 in the third, Valley didn’t find too many offensive opportunities. Tucker scored four points and Makaila Adams added a free throw.

The fourth was all Briarwood, with the Lions outscoring the Rams 12-4. Kerley and Crawford both scored four points, and the Briarwood defense ensured that the Lions would advance to the next round of the playoffs.

After historic performances from Crawford and Kerley, Briarwood will look to continue its rejuvenated season in regionals against the Selma Saints on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Alabama State University.