Brook Childers led the Patriots with 18 points against the Cold Springs Eagles. | Brent Maze

Brewer needed junior Bri Flack’s two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining to defeat Cold Springs 49-47 in the championship game of the fourth annual Danville High School Lady Hawks Thanksgiving Tournament Friday night.

This is the third consecutive year that the Lady Patriots (8-0) have won their rival’s tournament.

Cold Springs outscored the Lady Patriots 16-5 through 7:58.2 of the fourth quarter before Flack gave Brewer the lead for good. The Eagles had a chance at the buzzer, but the game-winning half-court shot rimmed out.

Brewer head coach Ricky Allen said he was pleased with the way that his team has come together after losing so many key players last year, including Riley Northway and Savana Flack who are now playing in college at Lipscomb and Faulkner.

“We were starting over at ground zero,” Allen said. “Some of these girls were a part of the pretty successful program over the last few years. They believe if they play hard enough, they can win any ballgame. When it got to the nitty gritty tonight, they got tougher together.”

Brewer jumped out to a 32-20 halftime lead thanks to Brook Childers who finished with 18 points and Malerie Drinkard who had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Drinkard, the team’s emotional and spiritual leader, had to sit out the final two minutes after she fouled out.

Flack, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, was the only other person to score in the first half.

In the second half, Henlee Brindley, Carlee Landers and Tamera Chatman each added buckets to help Brewer escape. Chatman’s bucket came with a minute to go, giving Brewer a 47-46 lead.

Cold Springs was fouled on the ensuing possession, but the Eagles only made one of two free throws.

Flack got fouled on a previous possession trying to tip in a missed shot, but the referees ruled it was not in the act of shooting, but on the final possession, Flack finally got her chance.

“To be honest, I thought she was fouled all three times,” Allen said. “She made some critical free throws for us to give us the win.

“We grew up a lot as a team tonight.”

Brewer advanced to the championship by beating Athens in the semifinals, Brindlee Mountain in the quarterfinals and Fairview in the opening round.

Danville head coach Paul Wilson said he was pleased with the success of the tournament.

“This is the first time that we actually had better attendance on Friday than we did on Wednesday,” Wilson said. “Everything went well with having two sites, one here at Danville and one at Falkville. I think we will try to do that again next year.”

Brindlee Mountain 58, Danville 53

McKayla Stover’s 11 points wasn’t enough to lift the Lady Hawks (4-5) in the finals of the Consolation A Bracket.

Sydni Shelton and Tara Tuck added 7 points each followed by Charlee Anderson and Callie Ryan with 6 each, Tabetha Hutto with 4 and Shelia Cordova with 1.

Danville 40, Oneonta 36

The Lady Hawks defeated defending 4A state champion Oneonta to advance in the consolation bracket.

Ryan paced Danville with 14 followed by Tuck with 7, Shelton and Gracie George with 6 each, Hutto with 4 and Anderson with 3.

Decatur 43, Danville 42

The Lady Red Raiders edged the Lady Hawks, thanks to Christina Decay’s 15 points.

Ryan and Shelton led Danville with 8 each followed by George with 7, Tuck with 6, Cordova with 5 and Anderson and Hutto with 4.

Danville 54, Sardis 16

Shelton led the Lady Hawks in the win with 16 points.

Ryan added 8 points followed by Tuck with 7, George with 6, Hutto with 5, Anderson with 4, Erin Cleghorn and Stover with 3 each and Cordova with 2.