J.F. SHIELDS EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO 42 GAMES
Senior
Tyika Robinson drilled eight 3-point baskets and poured in 44 points to lead top-ranked Class 1A J.F. Shields (Beatrice) to a 76-58 win over Georgiana last weekend. The defending Class 1A state champion Lady Panthers improved to 13-0 with the victory and extended the state's longest current winning streak to 42 in a row.
Coach Herbert Blackmon's team was 29-0 en route to winning last year's 1A state crown – and finished 30-1 the year before with the only loss coming to Hazlewood in the state finals. That means the girls from Beatrice have won 72 of their last 73 games.
BRIARWOOD COACH WINS 400TH
Briarwood Christian (Birmingham) coach Jim Brown reached a major milestone last week when his Lady Lions beat Chelsea 53-42 to hand Brown his 400th career win. Brown, who is now 400-251 overall, saw his season interrupted last year when he suffered a heart attack and had to step down for a while. He has come back stronger than ever this season with Briarwood currently 16-3 after the Chelsea win. The Lions have also won 13 in a row since losing to Gardendale 53-48 on Nov. 20 in the Pelham Thanksgiving Tournament.
The current streak includes three wins at the University of Montevallo as Briarwood won the Shelby County tournament during the Christmas break.
Brown, currently in his 17th season as the Lady Lions' coach, has always been one who tried to steer clear of the limelight. He told The Birmingham News he didn't even tell his wife of the milestone until the night before the game. "I was hired to teach history and Dr. (Byrle) Kynerd gave me an opportunity to coach basketball, and I appreciate that. Briarwood is a great place to work and a great place to be," Brown said.
