CLEVELAND, Tenn. — By the end of their high school basketball careers, Bradley Central star forwards TaTianna Stovall and Kimora Fields could have four state championship rings apiece.
So far, no one in Tennessee has challenged the Bearettes' bruisers this season, and Fields and Stovall did it again Saturday night, when they led the way to an utterly dominant 67-23 home win over Murfreesboro's Oakland in a TSSAA Class 4A sectional at Jim Smiddy Arena.
Bradley Central (31-1) will now return to Middle Tennessee State University's Murphy Center, where the reigning state champions will continue their quest for the program's eighth overall title. Coach Jason Reuter's Bearettes — who are ranked No. 23 in the country by MaxPreps and first in the state — will take on Clarksville (31-0) in a quarterfinal at 3:15 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday.
If they can win that one and two more, another crown will be secure.
"Winning four state championships in high school would be really special," said Stovall, a junior who won TSSAA Division II-A title the past two years while playing for Webb-Bell Buckle, which produced five NCAA Division I signees last season.
"I would love to be able to leave high school saying that. That is something not many people will ever do. That is a big thing for Kimora and I. We are excited to try and live up to that."
While the 6-foot-1 Stovall showcased her all-around offensive game Saturday with 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds (five offensive) and a game-high six assists — including four in the first half — her lockdown defense was spectacular yet again.
Stovall has been able to handle the toughest defensive assignment on the court each game this season against an opponent's best scorer. In Saturday's case, she was able to step outside and stymie Oakland standout guard Alanna Poole, who finished with just nine points and six of the Lady Patriots' 26 turnovers.
"What you saw tonight is a team that really plays lockdown defense," Reuter said. "TaTianna gets the toughest draw every night. She is a dominant big who can really defend and not let guards get by her. She has been a weapon for us all season on both ends of the court."
Added Reuter: "I haven't been in a substate game that has ever been over this quickly. That is the testament to our girls and how much they get after it."
Leading perhaps the most dominant post duo in the state, Fields finished with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field to go with four steals and a pair of blocked shots. The 6-foot sophomore is shooting better 70% from the field this season and averaging nearly 23 points per game, and now she will get to go up against a fellow Class 4A Miss Basketball finalist, Clarksville senior Imari Berry, who is a Clemson signee.
While Berry will pose one of the toughest challenges the Bearettes have faced this season, with a scoring average close to 30 points per game, Fields has full belief her team will continue to surge its way to another gold ball trophy.
Bradley Central has had the mercy rule come into play in every game this postseason, which means there is a running clock after one team gets a 25-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
"For me and TaTianna to be big post players, we can really move and play defense at the same time," said Fields, who was the state tournament MVP last season as a freshman. "Tati really specializes in her defense, and that has really sparked us throughout this whole season. I don't think anybody is going to be a problem for us. I think we will be able to handle whatever challenge is ahead of us."
Harmonie Ware helped create a lopsided advantage early, too, as the Bradley Central junior shooting guard caught fire, scoring 13 first-quarter points in which she made a trio of 3-pointers. Other standout performances for Bradley included junior Avary Brewer's five steals and sophomore Addie Geren's two 3-pointers after coming off the bench in the second half.
The Bearettes outscored their opposition 320-135 in region tournament games and the sectional matchup. Now they will look to inflict their dominance for the entire state to see in the "Glass House" as they take a 17-game winning streak into the Murphy Center.
"Our goal is to get to Murfreesboro and win the state tournament every year," Fields said. "We believe we are the best team in the state. We just have to take things one game at a time and play to our potential. When we do, we are unstoppable."
Cleveland 40, Blackman 38: Under first-year head coach Bianca Hensley, Class 4A's Lady Blue Raiders will return to state for the first time since 2008. Cleveland (23-9) will face Lincoln County (25-9) in a quarterfinal at noon Eastern on Wednesday.
Upperman 41, Signal Mountain 22: In a Class 3A sectional, a tremendous season came to a close on the road for the Lady Eagles, who finished 23-8 overall.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.