Briarwood Christian School triumphed over the Hueytown Golden Gophers with a thrilling 61-60 victory on January 23, 2024, thanks to a last-second shot from Charlie Caldwell. With just seconds remaining and his team trailing by one point, Caldwell’s decisive play ignited the excitement of the home crowd and secured a second consecutive win for the Lions.
Intense Final Moments
As the clock ticked down, Sam Canale, who typically plays wide receiver, took on the role of point guard. After receiving a pass near midcourt, he spotted Caldwell racing toward the basket and delivered a perfectly timed assist. Caldwell finished the play with a single-handed layup that hit the backboard and fell through the net, sending the Briarwood student section into a frenzy.
The two teams started off slowly offensively. Canale led the Lions in the first quarter, contributing five points, while Caldwell and Drew Mears also found the score sheet. The Lions took an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 11-8.
Quarterly Highlights
Briarwood’s offense picked up momentum in the second quarter. Zeke Witt made his mark with two field goals and converted three of four free throws. Caldwell added five points, including a crucial three-point play, and Tory Smith contributed with a long-range shot. At halftime, Briarwood held a solid lead at 28-20.
Both teams exchanged scoring runs in the third quarter, each tallying 18 points. Mears stood out for Briarwood, scoring 11 points during this stretch, while Canale added another six. By the end of the third, the Lions were up 46-38, but the Gophers were poised for a comeback.
The final quarter saw intense back-and-forth action. Hueytown’s players rallied to score 22 points, taking a brief lead at 60-59 with just seconds remaining. Despite strong efforts from Witt, who scored seven points in the fourth, and Canale with four, the Lions faced a daunting challenge. However, Canale’s assist to Caldwell for the game-winning shot turned the tide, allowing Briarwood to clinch the win.
Mears emerged as the top scorer for Briarwood with a total of 17 points. Canale contributed 15 points, Witt added 14 points, and Caldwell rounded out the scoring with 10 points, highlighted by his game-winning layup. Smith also played a part in the offense, scoring five points early in the game.
With this victory, Briarwood improved to an overall record of 18-9. The Lions will continue their five-game homestand on January 28 at 19:30 when they host the Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights.
