Team Spotlight: Bethel Braves
The Bethel Braves took on the Wilson Rams in the championship game of the 2019 T-Town Throwdown. As the host school, Wilson had the crowd behind them and enough talent to stick with the Braves for the first half, but…
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Continue ReadingThe Bethel Braves took on the Wilson Rams in the championship game of the 2019 T-Town Throwdown. As the host school, Wilson had the crowd behind them and enough talent to stick with the Braves for the first half, but the Braves started the 3rd quarter with an offensive onslaught that the Rams never recovered from. The Braves would win the championship matchup 68 to 43 after outscoring the Ram 48 to 23 in the second half. Bethel is now 9 – 0 on the season, and the team has its eyes set on the state tournament after missing the quarter-finals last year. Here’s a breakdown of Bethel’s prospects and role players.
“The Big Three”
Tiarra Brown | 5’10” SG | 2020
Our 15th ranked player in the 2020 class was incredibly impressive in her team’s championship win. Athletically, she is in a league of her own with speed, strength, and ball-handling skills that make her an absolute force on both ends of the court. Tiarra can get to the rim at any point, sky for rebounds over taller defenders, throw dimes from across the court, and knockdown deep threes if left open. When her team went on a 32 to 11 run in the decisive 3rd quarter, Brown showed her ability to influence a game without scoring as she grabbed 4 steals and accumulated 5 assists in the offensive outburst. She’d finish the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Esmeralda Morales | 5’4″ G | 2021
The junior point guard for the Braves earned MVP honors for her performance in the championship game. She’s a great two-way player, able to drain threes and drive to the rim on offense, and she could force turnovers with relentless her defense. Morales scored more than half of her 18 points after hitting back-to-back 3’s to start off the quarter. She plays with earned confidence and shows leadership and poise when running her team’s offense.
Alyssa Smith | 5’11” SG | 2023
The freshman shooting guard is an absolute difference-maker for a team that had a real chance at winning a state championship last season. She’s almost like a hybrid of Morales and Brown, and she has quickly found a way to fit in with her two talented teammates. Smith scored 15 points in the win, but her hustle was the thing that stood out the most. Smith was all over the court, grabbing loose balls and diving on the floor for several tie-ups. She’s a solid 5’11” but like Brown, she is a matchup nightmare because of her versatility at her size.
Role Players
Nakima Miller | 5’9″ G/F | 2020
Miller brought more hustle and effort to the floor, skying for rebounds, finding open looks, and dishing out assists. In the midst of her team’s big 3rd quarter, Miller found Brown on a nice backdoor cut and chased down a loose rebound to save a possession. Miller was a reliable option on offense and has the athleticism to challenge her matchup on defense as well.
Amanda Wilkins | 5’11” F/C | 2020
A senior with great height and length, Wilkins was able to impact the game with shot-blocking, rebounds, and points in the paint. With Brown’s ability to penetrate the defense and draw defenders, Wilkins was an asset to have for dump-offs under the basket. She showed discipline on defense, using her length and remaining vertical to challenge the Rams attempts near the basket.
Faith Taula | 5’7″ F | 2023
I have to give a shoutout to another role player who made the most of limited minutes. Taula spent most of her time on the court when the game was already in hand, but she is a coach’s dream who does all the things that don’t necessarily show up in the stats. She took two charges in the fourth quarter used her solid frame to put textbook box-outs on her opponents. She showed her shooting touch by going 3 for 4 from the free-throw line. She’s only a freshman, and even though she isn’t naturally gifted like other athletes, she has a real opportunity to impact games by doing the dirty work that every great team needs from their role players.