Six area teams try for state berths

The seniors on the Cleveland High School girls’ basketball team should feel right at home tonight. For the fourth consecutive year, the Lady Raiders will be hosts for a girls’ basketball state sectional.

Sectionals will be held statewide today in each of the TSSAA’s three Division I classifications. Winners advance to the state tournament March 5-8 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro.

Cleveland (30-2) won the Region 3-AAA championship Wednesday and is one of six area girls’ teams — two in each class — with seasons remaining alive. The third-ranked Lady Raiders will play at 7 against Region 4 runner-up Lebanon (20-13). Bradley Central (25-9) plays at Region 4 champion and 10th-ranked Shelbyville Central (26-5) at 8 EST.

Cleveland’s senior class is comprised of three NCAA Division I signees who combine for about 43 points per game. Leading rebounder Michelle Davis is going to North Carolina State. Steals and assists leader Rachael Isom is bound for Murray State. Perimeter threat Cacy Burtnett is headed to Belmont.

“They’ve played in big games and a lot of them over the last three years,” Cleveland coach Rachel Moore said. “I know they’re excited to get the chance to play at home again.”

Moore said the three had a goal when they arrived at Cleveland, and it’s not being satisfied at winning at the sectional level. They’ve been there and done that three times previously but have yet to play in a state final.

“Our goal is to win our last game,” Davis said. “To do that, we can’t overlook anybody. A state championship is our goal, but first we have to take the steps to get there.”

Lebanon is led by the 6-foot-plus sister combination of Landon and Icelyn Elie. Senior Jasmin Brooks returned in time to help lead a charge to the District 7 tournament title.

“That record is very deceiving,” Moore said. “They’re a team that played all year without their point guard. Had she been playing all year, they’d be better than 20-13. I guarantee you that.”

Bradley Central has been a balanced-scoring team all season, although wing player Katie Davis scored 54 of its 115 points the last two games. The Bearettes were Cleveland’s opponent in the region final, and the loss was their fourth to the Lady Raiders in as many tries this season.

Mapquest.com reports the estimated driving distance between the schools in Cleveland to be 3.16 miles.

“We’d love to play them again,” Bradley coach Bryan Glasner said. “That would mean somebody from Cleveland would have a gold ball and somebody would have a silver, because the only way we could meet again would be in the state-championship game.”

* Class AA: Top-ranked McMinn Central (30-2) won its third consecutive Region 3 title Wednesday and hosts York Institute at 7 p.m. Sequatchie County (30-4) travels to Region 4 champion and No. 4-ranked Upperman for the second consecutive year for an 8 EST tipoff.

McMinn Central is led by point guard Kylie Lambert, part of a strong junior class that has gone undefeated in region- and district-tournament play. The Chargerettes reached the state tournament in 2006. They lost to Livingston Academy 54-49 in a state sectional last year.

McMinn Central has a strong bench that complements a squad filled with standouts, including Lambert, wing Jaryn Davis, guard Madison Lee, forward Gabby Jordan and post player Kelsie McNutt.

Sequatchie County reached its first state sectional last year and lost 63-57 to an eventual state semifinalist. The Lady Indians also have a talented junior class, led by point guard Katherine Barker, forward Rachel Lockhart and post player Lakyn Ledford. Sequatchie County has never reached the state tournament.

“We’re just hoping to do our best from the other side of the bracket,” Sequatchie coach Anita Myers Barker said.

* Class A: Arts & Sciences will host a state sectional game for the first time after the No. 10-ranked Lady Patriots won the Region 3 championship Thursday. Region 4 runner-up and second-ranked Clarkrange will face CSAS at 7 tonight. Region 3 runner-up Copper Basin visits Region 4 champion and No. 3-ranked Jackson County at 8 EST.

Until this season, the Lady Patriots had never made it past the region semifinals, but they have gone 23-6 under first-year head coach Clay Martin, a CSAS alumnus.

“I think it’ll be a great atmosphere,” Martin said. “It will be the first time for a sub-state game at CSAS, so it should be a unique experience. Clarkrange is a great team, but I’d much rather be playing at home than on the road.”