TN AAAA State Championship: Bradley Central’s Quest to Repeat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bradley Central (34-1) 58</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett 30-11 - 43</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearrettes came out a bit sluggish in this one. Bartlett showed a lot of soft, 3/4 court pressure to just control the tempo and make Bradley's guards work just a bit. In the 1st quarter, the teams swapped leads multiple times. The key to Bradley's offense was offensive rebounding the in first quarter which led to easy, high percentage shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartletts early offense was led by [player_tooltip player_id='290717' first='Carrington' last='Jones'] who wasn't scared of the moment. Samaya Jones looked confident attacking the rim. Rixter looked terrific on both ends, and is as elite an athlete as I've seen. [player_tooltip player_id='290717' first='Carrington' last='Jones'], however, may have been a bit too aggressive as [player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox'] picked up a charge on Jones at the end of the 1st, giving her a 2nd foul, and sending Bartlett's best player to the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final score at the end of the 1st was Bradley 14, Bartlett 9 as [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] hit a 15 footer at the buzzer to give Bradley a 5 point lead even though they haven't played very well yet this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett came out and [player_tooltip player_id='625399' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] immediately hit a 3 to pull the game to 14-12. Bradley has a 12-6 rebounding advantage, and Bradley has a 5-6 FT advantage vs o-2 for Bartlett. Bartlett has to keep them off the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='513228' first='Kimora' last='Fields'] got going in the 2nd quarter, with a personal 4-0 run giving her 8 points. Halfway through the 2nd Bradley is 0-6 from three. Then [player_tooltip player_id='409074' first='Avary' last='Brewer'] immediately hit a big one extending the lead to 21-14. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Bearrettes defense continued to dominate forcing multiple turnovers, multiple five second counts, and general kept Bartlett from getting much easy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rixter came out and got a quick steal and bucket. to cut the lead to six. [player_tooltip player_id='409005' first='Zoey' last='Rixter'] looks like a D1 player. She was everywhere...garner steals, blocks, rebounds. And it seemed it was Rixter too often rebounding alone vs Bradley as BC was relentless on the offensive glass. Bradley pulled 4 straight boards, picked up a 2nd Rixter foul send her to the bench, and 2 more free throws for Bradley extending to 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='290717' first='Carrington' last='Jones'] followed that with a brilliant move and finish at the rim to cut the lead back to five points. [player_tooltip player_id='290717' first='Carrington' last='Jones'] is simply a next level player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett couldn't get out of their own way however as they continued to foul Bradley's Fields sending her to the line often. After Fields went 1-2 the lead went out to 6 (24-18 Bradley on top).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] followed that up with ANOTHER offensive rebound putback to extend the lead to 8. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradley extended the lead to 29-19 After [player_tooltip player_id='899882' first='Addie' last='Geren'] hit Ware with a gorgeous pass with 1:30 left. After another Ware basket, the score was extended to 31-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the half, [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] had 16 points and 5 rebounds as she continued a dominant postseason run. [player_tooltip player_id='513228' first='Kimora' last='Fields'] had 9 points 6 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='409074' first='Avary' last='Brewer'] was held to three points at the half. And Tatiana Stovall only had 2 points and zero rebounds as she was in fould trouble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradley dominated the battle on the glass 22-13. BCHS had 11! 1st half offensive rebounds! The FT disparity was on Bradley's side as well, as Bradley was 8-11 and Bartlett was only 1-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the half for Bartlett, [player_tooltip player_id='290717' first='Carrington' last='Jones'] led the way with 9. [player_tooltip player_id='625399' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] had 3. [player_tooltip player_id='409005' first='Zoey' last='Rixter'] had 2 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals. Decara Ward had 2 points 4 rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409005"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gosh, Rixter is so impressive.  Her combination of size, length and athleticism make her a spectacular defender that can guard 1-5.  Throughout the tournament she's been every where with blocks, steals, and rebounds.  Versus Bradley she felt like best Bartlett defender on the floor.  As her skill improves, she has a chance to be SPECIAL!!!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ecd52e52a04"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradley came out in the 2nd half with an immediate Brewer to Fields bucket, followed by a Brewer to Stovall bucket, giving BC a 16 point lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But Bartlett wouldn't go away! They trimmed the lead from 16 to 12, and then Rixter pulled Bartlett 37-29 within 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilcox hit [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] who hit a three at the buzzer to give her 21 points, and 14 point lead heading into the 4th. She also probably won tourney MVP with that shot as she's dominated the glass house all week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett began the 3rd with the ball and down 12. On the first possession, Stovall fouled out, and [player_tooltip player_id='899882' first='Addie' last='Geren'] '26 sub in to finish the game for Bradley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rixter went 1-2 from the line, and cut the lead to 11. Bradley Central was obvious with their intentions to slllloooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww the game down in the 4th. Bradley wanted layups or nothing in the 4th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Bradley continued to attack the rim, it put all the pressure on Rixter to protect the rim. She quickly picked up 2 fouls. [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] git 2 FTs giving her 23 points (more than half of Bradley's points!).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Immediately after the Ware FTs, with 4:26 left, [player_tooltip player_id='513228' first='Kimora' last='Fields'] fouled out leaving Bradley with zero traditional bigs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='795480' first='Love' last='Howard'] subbed in for Fields, giving them a five guard lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bartlett pressure began getting to the Bradley guards and they began forcing turnovers and converting buckets. They cut the lead to 9 with 3:00 to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And of course, [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] saved the day. She picked up a steal, was fouled at the rime, went 2-2 to give her 25 points in the AAAA state championship. Ware is 10-10 from the FT line with 2:30 to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And at this point, the game was all but over. Bartlett picked up a T, Ware scored her 26th point, and Bradley was up 14 with 2:00 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["290719"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] had the game of her life in the championship.  29 points. 14-14 from the FT line.  Scored on all 3 levels.  Defended Rixter.  Pulled 8 boards with 5 of them coming on the offensive end.  She also had 3 steals.  She averaged 14 a game this year, and more than doubled that in the biggest game of her life.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ecd52e52aae"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And just like that, Bradley Central is indeed TN's 4A back to back state champs. And the bad news for every other team in the state--Bradley returns all 5 starts (gulp). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='513228' first='Kimora' last='Fields'] had 12 points 8 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='409074' first='Avary' last='Brewer'] 7 points, 3 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware'] 29 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox'] 4 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 turnover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tatianna Stovall 6 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Congrats to Bradley Central for running it back to back (to back???)! And congrats to Bartlett for making two straight 4A state championship appearances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bradley Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I thought [player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox'] was superb in this game.  Playing a big Bartlett club, and with both Fields and Stovall fouling out, the Bradley guards had to put an emphasis on gang reboundingu002du002dand [player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox'] pulled down 10 boards (3 offensive)!  She also handled the Bartlett press well with a 4:1 assist to turnover ratio.  She's also a high caliber perimeter defender and added a steal and block.  [player_tooltip player_id='889803' first='Malia' last='Wilcox'] just put a bow on a wonderful season for the Jr PG.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ecd52e52bab"} /-->