CHULA — Valwood earned another shot at Brookwood Monday night, beating Terrell Academy in the District 3-3A tournament, 52-44. This play-in game, as well as that of the Lady Valiants, were played at Tiftarea Academy.

The Valiants were to play No. 1 seed Brookwood Tuesday at the Storm Dome in Americus, with Tiftarea Academy taking on Deerfield-Windsor in the other semifinal.

Valwood got 20 from Chase Helfer in an electric shooting night overall. The Valiants knocked down eight three-pointers and added two more old-fashioned three-point plays.

They also frustrated the Eagles defensively. Twice Cort Kurrie picked off inbounds passes after Valwood scores, including one to beat the halftime buzzer. That, combined with a deep three-ball from Helfer gave them five points in three seconds, propelling what had been a close 26-24 game into something much more easy.

Jack Morris gave the Valiants a quick 6-2 lead in the first 90 seconds on a pair of three-pointers. Kurrie scored on a steal and when Richard Hunter had a rare four-point play when he was fouled on a three, the Valiants were up 12-4.

Terrell called a timeout to regroup and it worked.

John Mark Irvin was fouled on a made basket and when J.W. Faust put back in an offensive rebound a split-second before the clock struck zero, the Eagles were back in it at 14-11.

Saf Ross got the Valiants ahead 24-17 at 3:35, but TAE scored the next seven to tie it up at 24.

Helfer was scoreless in the first quarter, but began to cook in the second. He had nine in the frame, scoring inside and out.

After a Helfer drive broke the tie, the Valiants worked the clock down for Helfer to swish a shot from the Tiftarea logo. That would have been the perfect ending for the half, but Kurrie’s quick hands snagged the inbounds pass and, in one quick motion, he scored on a layup.

With all the momentum on their side, Valwood quickly got comfortable in the third quarter. Helfer’s second trey of the third worked the lead to 39-26.

The Valiants had a 45-31 advantage going into the fourth period.

With Kurrie getting a well-deserved rest, Max Helfer popped in a couple of field goals at the start of the frame.

Pace Cooling scored for Terrell Academy to get the lead under 10 again at 49-40 and Irvin gave the Eagles a brief chance at 49-42 at 2:24. Their hopes were only for a moment.

At 1:50 Chase Helfer was fouled in the paint on a made basket. He made the free throw for a 52-42 game. The Eagles hit one more shot but it was too late.

Beyond Chase Helfer’s 20, Morris and Ross scored eight apiece. Kurrie and Hunter each notched six with Max Helfer at four.

Irvin scored 14 for Terrell Academy with Faust at 10.

Essentially a lock for state in the power rankings, the Valiants might be able to move up another spot with this win, from ninth to eighth. Though Terrell lost its 14th game of the year, the Eagles are probably in state as well. At the Monday power rankings update, they were 11th.

Brookwood is No. 1 in Class 3A. Also in District 3-3A, Deerfield-Windsor was ranked fourth and Tiftarea was seventh.