CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley Central senior Kimora Fields ensured her last game in Jim Smiddy Arena was iconic.
As the Bearettes secured their storied girls’ basketball program’s 36th TSSAA state tournament trip with assists on 23 of their 29 field goals in Saturday’s 80-54 win over Mt. Juliet in a Class 4A sectional, the most memorable pass of the night was made by Fields into the crowd.
Fields was sensational in the second half, when the No. 27 player in ESPN’s national recruiting rankings scored 27 of her game-high 42 points. In doing so, the Clemson signee became the all-time leading scorer for the state’s winningest program, which is seeking its fourth straight state title (and 10th overall) with Fields leading the way more than ever.
After being honored with a commemorative basketball honoring her as the Bearettes’ all-time leading scorer, Fields went to the far side of the court and tossed it high in the air to her mother, Kim, nearly 10 rows deep in the crowd.
“I never imagined being able to do something like this,” said Fields, who broke Data Caldwell’s program record of 3,011 and currently sits at 3,024 with possibly three games left to play in a Bradley Central uniform.
The Bearettes are headed to Murfreesboro again and will take on Sevier County (26-5) in Thursday’s Class 4A quarterfinals at 1:45 p.m. Eastern in Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center. The semifinals are Friday, and the title game is a day later.
“This wasn’t one of my dreams, but to be able to be the all-time leading scorer is an unreal feeling,” Fields said. “To see all the hard work and dedication to this game pay off is great. I am also very proud of my team for allowing me to be able to be the player that I am. I wouldn’t be able to do what I have without them getting the ball to me.”
Bradley Central vs. Mt. Juliet girls’ basketball on March 7, 2026
Leading the way in assists Saturday night was fellow senior Addie Geren, who racked up a career-high 10 assists while hitting a pair of 3-pointers to help top-ranked Bradley Central improve to 32-0 this season.
Fields also set her teammates up extremely well, as she dished out six assists in an impressive home finale that included 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Bearettes were 10-of-25 from 3-point range, which included three apiece from juniors Jada Francis and Kiley Johnson. Francis finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Johnson did not miss any of her three long-range attempts.
Bradley Central opened the second half on a 16-0 run, which included four 3-pointers, as head coach Jason Reuter’s team brought the home fans to their feet after building a 52-24 lead.
Fields was unstoppable after the break, scoring 11 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth before making a final exit off her home floor with less than three minutes to play. She finished 17-of-25 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
Last year she became the program’s third state Miss Basketball winner, following Brittany Jackson (Class AAA in 2001) and Rhyne Howard (Class AAA in 2018), and Fields has a chance to become the first Bradley Central player to repeat. She is one of three finalists in Class 4A, and the winner will be announced Tuesday night in Murfreesboro.
“You may not see another like Kimora in a long time,” Reuter said. “To see a player like her is not very common. She is very rare. Kimora is a rare diamond, not in the rough, either. She is polished, and I am sure glad I had her for four years. And we are not done yet. I am very proud of her.”
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After graduating four Division I signees from last year’s team, which sealed Bradley Central’s first run of three consecutive state titles, Fields has been exceptional while taking on a far greater load. The 6-foot forward has averaged 32.3 points per game this season, totaling 969 in 30 games played, as she missed the final two games of the regular season.
“With us rebuilding this year, it took a lot of trust,” said Fields, who has helped Bradley Central to 136 wins with just three losses over the past four years. “We all have had to learn how to play with each other and had to learn the things we are good at and who is good at what. Everyone has stepped up and has helped us do great things.
“I am very proud of my team. We are going to the Glass House for the fourth year in a row.”
(READ MORE: Kimora Fields will lead Bradley Central’s quest for fourth straight state title)
While the glass of the Murphy Center is quite familiar to Fields at this point, the two-time state tournament MVP has a chance to help the 2025-26 Bearettes finish out something the program hasn’t experienced since 1976 — when Caldwell was a senior and MVP of the title run: an undefeated season.
“Let’s be honest, people didn’t expect us to be here at 32-0,” Reuter said in regard to the talent Bradley Central had to replace. “But we are not just happy to be going to Murfreesboro. We are going there to win. To win another championship.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.