CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Just 10 games into their 2024-25 season, the dominance of the Bradley Central Bearettes is already earning them consideration as one of the best girls’ basketball teams in the country.
Motivated to deliver the program’s first state championship three-peat, the Bearettes have outscored opponents 73.1-29.8 on average during an unbeaten start, which has led to national rankings of No. 10 by MaxPreps and No. 18 by Sports Illustrated.
Thursday night in Jim Smiddy Arena, Bradley Central made another statement with a resounding 77-39 win over visiting Bartlett. It was a rematch of last season’s TSSAA Class 4A championship game, a 15-point victory for the Bearettes in early March in Murfreesboro that secured the program’s eighth state title.
“They could very well be playing their best ball ever,” said Jason Reuter, who is in his 15th season as head coach of the Bearettes. “But you have to remember what got us here: hard work. I have some really talented and hard-working girls who let me push them. Every starter is back from last year. Another offseason together. They all put on a little muscle.
“The secret to our success is consistent work. What they are doing right now is a result of what these girls have been doing for years.”
Arkansas signee Harmonie Ware picked up right where the reigning state championship MVP left off, as her shot was crisp on the way to leading all scorers with 23 points and sinking all four of her 3-point attempts against Bartlett (6-5). Ware also had four steals, a pair of blocks and four assists — including a full-court heave to junior Kimora Fields to beat the first-quarter buzzer — on a night when her team had 20 assists on its 26 baskets.
Ware is far from the only big weapon leading the charge, as seniors Avary Brewer (Samford signee), TaTianna Stovall (Kennesaw State signee) and Malia Wilcox (Walters State signee) have been steadfast in their roles. Meanwhile, Fields is one of the top players in the class of 2026 and recently received a birthday card signed by legendary University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, college basketball’s all-time wins leader.
“We are excited about the national rankings, but we don’t get the big heads,” said Ware, who is shooting 59% from the field this season. “We just stay humble and keep working so we can keep climbing and elevate ourselves to an even higher level. Our team is a lot stronger than we were last year. We all are having fun and have such great chemistry.”
The Bearettes were sharp on defense as they forced Bartlett into 27 turnovers, which helped the hosts finish the game with a 20-3 advantage in fast-break points.
Brewer was also scorching hot as she drained five 3-pointers while finishing with 18 points along with Fields, whose five steals were a game high. Stovall added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block, while Wilcox had a game-high six assists and blocked a shot against the Memphis-area visitors.
“We all have the goal to win a third straight championship and want to be regarded as highly as possible,” Brewer said. “We are flying to Miami on December 26 for a big tournament, and in January we are going to Orlando to play Montverde Academy and IMG Academy.”
Those are Florida’s top two ranked teams, but the Bearettes will no doubt continue the approach that has worked so well.
“What makes this season so fun,” Brewer said, “is we all know each other’s strengths and share the ball great.”
With their closest win of the season so far a 62-35 home win over Lincoln County, which is ranked No. 17 in Tennessee by MaxPreps, Bradley Central looks the part as one of the country’s finest. Their unity even shows in their uniforms right down to their shoes, as the Bearettes all wear the same neon Nikes for games.
“We live in a society where there are a lot of selfish people who want everything to be about themselves,” Reuter said. “But every day I remind these girls how important being a team is. They play like a team and have only gotten better and better because of it.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.