CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley Central basketball coach Kent Smith has learned to realize the importance of savoring a district win when his players don’t do things they are capable of doing.
Friday night the Bears missed 16 free throws and scored only three field goals in the final eight minutes of game time. But they drew seven charge calls — including one taken by Bryce Copeland with 6.9 seconds to go in overtime — and were able to hold off rival Cleveland for a 58-57 District 5-AAA victory at Jim Smiddy Arena.
Bradley (14-6) improved to 5-3 in District 5-AAA, a half-game behind Cleveland (13-6, 6-3) for third place. The two split the regular-season meetings.
“This is an atmosphere like none other,” said Copeland, who finished 8-for-13 at the line. “The Cleveland-Bradley game is hard to beat — 2,000 screaming fans. It’s great.”
Copeland had 18 points and scored the last nine points in regulation. The sophomore, however, missed two key free throws in the final 23.3 seconds, allowing Cleveland’s Jay Mee to score five points in that time frame, including a spinning layup with two seconds remaining to tie the game at 52.
The Bears then missed seven free throws in overtime, which gave Cleveland an opportunity to remain close. Bradley’s Miles Morgan had the overtime period’s only field goal, with a score inside, but it gave the Bears a 54-53 lead that they wouldn’t give up again.
“If we hit free throws, that game was over in regulation,” Smith said. “I hope the guys realized the importance of me putting them at the free-throw line in crucial situations in practice, but I’m proud of our guys. We were fortunate to come out with a big win.”
Bradley finished 19-for-35 at the foul line in the game; Cleveland was 9-for-16.
Cleveland led 47-46 with under two minutes to play in regulation and secured a rebound but turned the ball back over to the Bears on a bad pass. Copeland was then fouled on back-to-back possessions and hit five of six free throws, but Mee hit a hanging 3-pointer, then the layup to send the game into overtime.
“We talk a lot about having composure, but I didn’t think we made plays down the stretch,” Cleveland coach Jason McCowan said. “We executed in spurts but made too many unforced mistakes.”
Jarrod Rhodes had 23 points to lead Cleveland, with Mee adding 17. James Stovall had 12 points for Bradley.
“This was a big win for us in the district,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of basketball left to be played in this district, but it’s a big win and we’ll take it.”
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