CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley Central girls’ basketball fans roared with applause Saturday night inside Jim Smiddy Arena as Avary Brewer checked out of the game with 3:22 to play.
The senior shooting guard had already done more than enough — her career night included eight 3-pointers in a 30-point performance — to help the Bearettes assert their dominance on their home court one last time this season.
As she headed to the bench, Brewer had compiled four more points than Lebanon had at the time as the nationally ranked No. 5 Bearettes pummeled the Devilettes, 82-32, in a Class 4A sectional to earn the illustrious program’s 35th trip to the TSSAA state tournament.
“When I was in middle school, I was always point guard and a little bit shorter. My dad was like, ‘We need to start shooting and backing up,'” said Brewer, who scored 22 points and hit a half-dozen 3-pointers in the first half. “He would tell me to shoot it high. My dad has been working with me forever. Tonight before this game, I just thought about how many hours I have spent in this gym, too. It’s sad to leave here, but I am happy to end it with a good night and excited for the future.”
Lebanon’s season ends at 24-8.
Brewer’s Bearettes (32-1) are one of the last eight teams left in Class 4A and moving on to Murfreesboro to face Coffee County (35-0) at 9:45 p.m. Eastern in Thursday’s quarterfinals at Middle Tennessee State University. Bradley Central, in its 15th season under head coach Jason Reuter, is seeking the program’s first state championship three-peat and ninth title overall.
Bradley Central has scored an average of 76.5 points per game this season while holding its opposition to 29.5, which are both the top marks for the program under Reuter, who also guided the program to a state championship in 2019 in addition to the past two. Saturday’s victory came three days after a 56-point win against rival Cleveland for the Bearettes’ 10th straight region title.
“I don’t know if I have ever had a team as heavily favored as this team going into the state tournament,” Reuter said. “Tonight, Avary knocked them out by herself. She puts up as many shots on her own at game speed as anyone I have ever coached on the girls’ side. She has worked and worked and crafted her skill, and she got the reward tonight.”
Kimora Fields, a 6-foot junior, asserted her dominance in the paint early as she had nine of her game-high 14 rebounds by halftime. The nation’s 32nd-ranked college prospect in the class of 2026, Fields finished with authority as she shot 9-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the foul line to score 25 points. Fields also added a trio of steals and assists, while senior guard Harmonie Ware scored 19 points and blocked a shot.
“I have never had a girl quite like Kimora,” Reuter said. “She has starred on the biggest stage of high school since she was a freshman against 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 girls. She is one of the best players I have ever coached, and she holds the TSSAA single-season field-goal percentage record for a reason. She is one of the strongest post players in the state.”
Copper Basin (18-8) made history as the Lady Cougars reached the state tournament for the first time with a 57-49 home win over Clay County in a Class 1A sectional. Copper Basin will take on Richland (27-4) at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday in a state quarterfinal at MTSU.
Class 2A’s top-ranked McMinn Central (34-1) secured its 18th trip to state with a 72-50 home win over Alcoa, the Chargerettes’ 33rd consecutive victory. They will face Loretto (24-8) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
In another 2A sectional, Meigs County lost 61-39 at Gatlinburg-Pittman, ending the Lady Tigers’ season at 21-12.
Class 4A’s Cleveland just missed a second straight state tournament appearance, losing 57-55 in overtime at Cookeville. The Lady Blue Raiders finished 24-9.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.