Brindlee Mountain, the fourth-ranked team in Class 3A, showed why they are so highly thought of as they raced to a big early lead, then held off several challenges by homestanding Locust Fork to earn a 74-54 victory Monday night.

Utilizing a fast break and a size advantage, the Lions roared to a 24-9 lead after the first quarter. Courtney Yarbrough and Emerald Rush led the early surge.

The Hornets narrowed the deficit slightly by halftime but still trailed 42-30 at the break. Jamie Gail Hudson led Locust Fork in the first half with six points, but she also picked up three fouls.

In the third period, Hudson quickly picked up her fourth foul which sent her to the bench, and Brindlee Mountain capitalized on her absence by stretching the lead to 56-40.

The Hornets mounted a charge early in the final period as Madison Cater nailed a 3-pointer with 5:35 left which cut the deficit to 11. But Rush and Yarbrough hit back-to-back baskets to extend the lead back to 15 points.

“We couldn’t match up on their fast break early and although we were able to adjust in the second quarter, we just couldn’t catch up,” Locust Fork coach Barbara Roy said. “They [Brindlee Mountain] are good enough to reach Birmingham.”

Yarbrough led all scorers with 26 points for the Lions. Rush scored 14 points, Haley Flack added 12 and Tori Sanders 10.

Ashlyn Adkins led Locust Fork with 16 points. Hudson finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Brindle Mountain moves to 18-2 on the season, while the Hornets fall to 10-6. Locust Fork makes the short trip to Hayden tomorrow night.