3rd year in 4 no state charm for BHS girls
OAK RIDGE — A magical season came to an abrupt end for the Bearden High School girls hoops team Monday, Feb. 25.
The campaign came to a close with a 50-43 loss to Oak Ridge (31-2) in the Region 2-AAA semifinals in Wildcat Arena.
“It stinks to lose, but I told these girls that I was proud of them,” BHS head coach Justin Underwood said. “These girls have set the bar really high at Bearden High School. We went 27-4, we won the regular season district championship and we had a 17-game winning streak.
“I’m a blessed man, and I get to work at a great school, and I’m extremely proud of our four seniors (Annaka Hall. Shekinah McLaughlin, Tytiaira Spikes and Caitlyn Sherrod),” he added. “I told them that I would go down with them any time.”
The BHS girls had reached the Class AAA State Tournament in two of the past three seasons (2018, 2016).
Bearden appeared poised for victory when it took a 39-35 lead after junior star post Jakhyia Davis, who led the Lady Dawgs with 18 points, scored with 4 minutes, 55 seconds remaining.
That, however, would be BHS’s final field goal of the season.
Oak Ridge’s defense stole the show and Jada Guinn scored eight of her game-high 21 points down the stretch.
“We picked up our defense and Jada decided she wanted to play,” ORHS coach Paige Redman said. “They really went cold late.”
Davis led Bearden with 18 points.
