Bradley Central High School’s Justin Houston charges past Ooltewah’s Ben Snider during a game at Ooltewah High School on Friday night.Bradley Central basketball coach Kent Smith knew he had some depth coming into the season, and he’s used 11 different starting lineups already. What he confirmed Friday night at Ooltewah was that none of his future starting fives should include Hunter Chastain.
The senior came off the bench and scored 24 points, including 16 in the Bears’ hot-shooting first half. They jumped to an 18-point halftime lead on the 10th-ranked Owls and held on for a 62-56 District 5-AAA victory.
Bryce Copeland added 10 points for Bradley (15-5, 5-2), which had to forfeit a district win over Rhea County for playing what was deemed an ineligible player. Guard Darien Johnson was penalized for playing in a church-league game.
“It wasn’t even a game,” Smith said. “He’s the leader of a youth group and they were shooting ball at a Boys and Girls Club. I don’t feel that Darien violated any rules. There was no presence of officials, and I don’t agree with the TSSAA’s ruling.”
Johnson was suspended six games, but his presence wasn’t needed Friday as the Bears built a 41-23 halftime margin. Bradley had 10 assists and only five turnovers in the first 16 minutes, when Chastain missed just one shot, as the Bears took what the aggressive Ooltewah defense gave them, finding gaps for layups and wide-open 3s.