Bulldogs stand toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked Memphis East
MURFREESBORO — On top of playing nationally-ranked Memphis East even for three quarters — and leading the eventual Class AAA boys basketball state champions 33-30 at halftime – Bearden finished tied for third-place during last week’s state tournament.
Maybe even more impressive was the Bulldogs’ final record of 38-2 — by far the best of the eight AAA state teams.
Bearden’s 72-60 loss to Memphis East (28-3) came in the state semifinals Friday afternoon, March 16.
The Bulldogs, however, opened tourney play strong with a 61-43 victory against Mt. Juliet (27-8) Wednesday afternoon, March 14.
A late surge, scoring 27 fourth-quarter points versus 15 for the Golden Bears, padded the final margin.
Trent Stephney, BHS junior guard, led his team in scoring with 19 points while grabbing a team-high four steals.
Drew Pember, Dawgs 6-foot-8 junior post, added 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Quez Glover, junior guard, scored 10 points while dishing out three assists.
Roman Robinson, junior wing, scored nine for BHS, followed by junior post Shamarcus Brown with five points (5-of-6 at the free throw line) and eight rebounds.
Post Justin Ketteri, the team’s lone senior, scored two, while sophomore London Stephney added one free throw.
Kordell Kah didn’t score, but the junior post added three rebounds and one block.
In a losing effort versus the powerful Mustangs Friday, Pember led BHS in scoring with 15 points while also leading his team in rebounds with 10. He also blocked two shots.
Glover scored 14 while grabbing three steals.
Trent Stephney added 11 points, while Kah had eight and Brown six points along with seven rebounds. Robinson and London Stephney each scored three.
Despite being outshot 51 percent versus 36 percent in field goal efficiency, the Bulldogs did sink 20 of 25 free throws.
Memphis East outrebounded Bearden 37-27.
