MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – If defense is an underrated part of Bradley Central girls’ basketball, it especially shouldn’t be after the in-game clinic the No. 2-ranked Bearettes put on Wednesday at the Class AAA state tournament.
Bradley limited fifth-ranked Daniel Boone to single-digit points in every quarter, and as a result, the Bearettes will be moving on to a semifinal after defeating the Lady Trailblazers 56-27 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.
Bradley (33-0) will play again Friday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern against Houston, which beat Mt. Juliet 70-54 in their Wednesday quarterfinal.
Bradley’s Alexis Barnes (34) breaks through two Daniel Boone defenders to shoot in Murfreesboro. Boone’s Bradley’s Alexis Barnes (34) breaks through two Daniel Boone defenders to shoot in Murfreesboro. Boone’s Not one of the Lady Trailblazers, who were led by Baleigh Carmichael’s eight points, shot as high as 50 percent from the floor. The Bearettes came up with nine steals and blocked five shots, with Anna Walker blocking four.
“Our defense really just grinds people down,” Walker said. “It’s one of the main parts of our plan, particularly in the halfcourt. Our defense is one of the biggest parts of our game.”