Staff photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press – Cleveland’s Atarah Abdullah-Muhammad keeps the ball from Bradley Central’s Emily McCracken in their District 5-AAA game Monday at Rhea County High School.EVENSVILLE, Tenn.-Bradley Central had three post players capable of taking away any penetration by Cleveland in Monday’s District 5-AAA girls’ championship game. The Bearettes also had one player-Kayla Beavers-who could hurt the Lady Raiders from outside.
Beavers hit four 3-point baskets and tied for team honors with 12 points in Bradley’s 43-35 victory Monday at Rhea County High School. The Bearettes outscored Cleveland 13-3 in a crucial fourth-quarter stretch to win their first district championship since 2009.
Both teams will host Region 3-AAA first-round games Thursday, with Bradley taking on Cookeville and the Lady Raiders facing White County. The tournament will move back to Rhea County on Saturday for semifinal action, with games starting at 3 p.m.
The Bearettes’ ball movement was crucial to their offensive success Monday, as they had 13 assists on 17 made field goals. Working from the middle, Bradley was able to get the ball outside to Beavers, who had three of her four 3 in the first quarter.
“I didn’t expect to be open so much,” she said. “My teammates did a good job of passing the ball, and I was able to get some open looks.”