Bradley Central coach Jason Reuter set six goals for his girls' high school basketball team before the start of the season. Four down, two to go.
The Bearettes won Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments and the District 5-AAA regular-season championship. On Monday at Soddy-Daisy, they captured the district-tournament title by disposing of second-seeded East Hamilton 81-40.
Bradley (29-0), the No. 2-ranked team in the Associated Press state poll, will host Cookeville in the first round of the Region 3 tournament Friday. The Bearettes ultimately want to get to Murfreesboro and bring home their sixth state championship, but first since 1976.
"We reached number four," Reuter said of his goals' list. "We're still seeking that elusive state championship. I don't know if this team will win it or not, but I know they'll give every ounce trying."
East Hamilton (16-13) will also be at home Friday, taking on White County. First-year Lady Hurricanes coach Hunter Gremore said he saw plenty of high-level girls' basketball where he came from in West Tennessee.
"They're as good as any team I've coached against," he said of the Bearettes.
Walker Valley beat McMinn County 54-34 in the third-place game. McMinn County will play at District 6 champion Cumberland County on Friday, and the Lady Mustangs will play at Stone Memorial.
The remainder of the girls' region tournament will be played at Bradley Central. Semifinals are Monday and the championship is Wednesday.
The Lady 'Canes started by scoring the first four points and got to the first-quarter break down 17-12. They were within 22-19 midway of the second quarter before Bradley asserted itself with a 15-1 run to close the half.
"We got a little tired," Gremore said. "My bench was real short tonight. We've got three injured.
"We played with them about a quarter and a half. That was about it."
The Bearettes added an 11-0 run during their 25-point third quarter, and they were firmly in control at 61-28 heading into the fourth.
"We're very explosive and very fast," Reuter said. "We've got one of the best junior guards in the nation in Rhyne Howard, and senior Halle Hughes may be the best anticipator on defense that I've ever coached.
"Obviously we want to play a fast-tempo game. Most teams we play can't play at that pace. There are some in the state that will. As we narrow the field, we know we'll see less of those runs."
Howard led the victory with 24 points. Hughes scored 16 and Kimia Carter provided 10 off the bench.
Madison Hayes paced East Hamilton with 11 points.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.