Region 3-AAA semifinalsAt Cumberland County High SchoolBRADLEY CENTRAL 80, McMINN COUNTY 50McMinn County 7 15 8 20 — 50Bradley Central 18 17 23 22 — 80McMinn County (50) — Versa, Simbeck 2, McCroskey, B. Davis 8, Nevins 9, Marshall 6, Hicks 4, A. Davis, Hayes 8, Ty Jones 13.Bradley Central (80) — Thompson, Bentley 2, Justin Houston 10, Bryce Copeland 18, Johnson 1, Miles Christian 13, Cox 6, Hunter Chastain 11, Contreras 2, Morgan 9, Whitmire 8, Cain.3-point goals: McMinn 5 (Marshall 2, Hayes 2, Hicks); Bradley 10 (Copeland 4, Christian 3, Houston 2, Cox). Records: Bradley 28-5; McMinn 18-13.OOLTEWAH 70, COOKEVILLE 48Ooltewah 11 15 33 11 — 70Cookeville 10 17 9 12 — 48Ooltewah (70) — Jackson 9, Creech 3, Hasenbegovic, Robinson 6, Andre Moton 17, Arnold, Ben Snider 18, Jervon Johnson 12, Ware 2, Stone, Bass 3, Warren.Cookeville (48) — Campbell, Paisley 2, Talkington, Trey Henderson 17, Mabee, Ledbetter 5, Mat Case 12, Tereheggen, Phillip Roper 12.3-point goals: Ooltewah 8 (Snider 3, Johnson 2, Jackson, Moton, Bass); Cookeville none. Records: Ooltewah 25-5; Cookeville 25-6.
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. – A lot of basketball teams in the Chattanooga area knew about Ooltewah’s quick-strike offensive ability. Cookeville is another victim now.
The Owls scored 30 points in the final six minutes of the third quarter of their Region 3-AAA semifinal against the Cavaliers, turning what had been a close game into a 70-48 rout. Bradley Central blasted McMinn County 80-50 and will face Ooltewah on Thursday at Cumberland County at 8 p.m. EST.
Both Tuesday winners qualify for the sectional round Monday, with Thursday’s winner hosting the loser of the 4-AAA final between Blackman and Lavergne and the loser visiting the Region 4 champion.
Coach Jesse Nayadley put Ooltewah in full-court pressure to begin with, trying to get what he had considered a lethargic team recently into a rhythm. The Cavaliers led 27-26 at halftime, but after a putback by Lucas Ledbetter gave them a 31-29 advantage, the Owls took flight, forcing seven turnovers and getting out in transition for baskets.