HAHIRA — Valwood welcomed the Terrell Academy Eagles to the Eager Sports Center Friday for a GIAA Class 3A matchup. The Eagles entered with the worst record in District 3, but in a shocker, won a 63-50 contest over Valwood. Earlier, Terrell won over the Lady Valiants 54-19.
Both Valwood squads entered on a winning streak, the Lady Valiants having defeated Open Bible with the Valiants a previous winner over Tiftarea Academy.
Valiants
Valwood had a slim 22-21 lead at halftime, expanding it slightly in the third quarter to 31-27 after Terrell scored the first four points of the frame.
Cort Kurrie made 3-of-4 free throws to tie at 25-25 before assisting Chase Helfer to go back ahead. Midway through the third, Richard Hunter and Helfer scored for a 31-27 Valiants lead and Kurrie made it 33-29 at 4:52.
It was 39-36 courtesy of Helfter before Terrell scored the last three points of the quarter.
The Eagles went on a 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter, taking a 45-39 lead. Helfer brought the Valiants to within four on free throws but Terrell went on on another scoring run, pushing it to 51-41. Terrell’s lead grew to 14, Valwood unable to get shots to fall.
Valwood was sharp in the first half, taking no time to score, starting with Kurrie connecting with Owens five seconds into the game. Helfer, Owens and Hunter gave them an 8-0 advantage less than four minutes into the game.
De’Mar Riley assisted Helfer to go ahead-10 before Terrell Academy got on the board with three. Valwood again made it a 10-point lead in the second, courtesy of Hunter on a Riley assist and a Kurrie steal. The Eagles took their first lead late in the half before Helfer answered for the 22-21 lead at the break.
Helfer lead the Valiants in scoring with 13. Kurrie, Hunter and Owens all finished with 9 points each. Valwood fell to 10-10 overall and (3-5 in the district).
Lady Valiants
After falling down 4-0 early in the game, Lacy Ann McLeod got the Lady Valiants on the board a minute into the first quarter. Terrell went ahead 14-2 before Valwood scored again, a 3-pointer by Bella Shaw.
An Emma Burnett triple cut the deficit to seven in the second before Terrell went on another long scoring run to take a 23-8 lead. McLeod assisted Carolyn Griner, but the Lady Eagles led at halftime, 32-10.
Burnett and Lizzy Eager scored in the third with Terrell going up 49-14. Ansley Holmes, Bryce Carter and McLeod had points in a shortened fourth.
The Lady Valiants fell to 5-14 (0-8 in district). Burnett led in scoring with 5 points, with McLeod at 4.
Valwood was to take on Highland Christian for Senior Night Monday.