After HHS Classic, Underwood’s BHS girls start 5-0; boys get 1st win
Justin Underwood’s Bearden Lady Bulldogs remained perfect with a pair of victories at the Heritage Thanksgiving Classic over the holiday weekend.
Bearden (5-0) picked up easy wins versus Johnson City Science Hill and Christian Academy of Knoxville.
“I think we had a couple of good games,” coach Underwood said. “We still have some things that we need to work on, but I was happy with the way our girls played against two good teams.
“I was pleased with the way they played, especially with all the distractions with the holidays,” he added.
On Friday, Nov. 29, Bearden had four players score in double figures as it downed the Lady Hilltoppers 59-43.
Jakhyia Davis scored 14 points. Freshman Avery Treadwell added 12 while Emma Stone and Zneyah McLaughlin finished with 10 apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs closed out the weekend with a 55-17 victory over the Lady Warriors.
Davis scored 25 points and McLaughlin had 11.
Boys in Lebanon
Bearden boys basketball head coach Jeremy Parrott said he knew the early season would be full of growing pains for his young squad.
The Bulldogs lost all five starters from last season’s squad that brought home a Class AAA state championship trophy.
Add having an inexperienced roster and an early-season schedule that has included opponents such as Cleveland, Hendersonville Beech, Murfreesboro schools Siegel and Riverdale plus John Greer State Farm Classic host Lebanon, and you have all the makings for a tough road out of the starting gate.
But Parrott has watched his team play valiantly on the road, despite its 1-4 overall record, after dropping its season opener to the CHS Blue Raiders at home Friday, Nov. 22.
“We’ve been road warriors,” Parrott said after the Bulldogs came up on the short end of a 66-58 decision against the host LHS Blue Devils Saturday night, Nov. 30.
“We went to where the games were being played. They didn’t come to us.
“We couldn’t get anybody locally to play us, so we had to go on the road,” he added. “We have a tough schedule, and this will make us better. Playing this kind of schedule will toughen us up and show us what we need to work on individually. Hopefully this will get us ready for our district schedule.”
Parrott said he has been pleased with the Bulldogs despite the rocky start record-wise. He also noted the Blue Devils (5-0) were a special opponent.
“Lebanon is a great team and they’re obviously trying to get to Murfreesboro (to the state tournament in March),” he said. “They’re arguably the best team that we’ve played this season.
“We were competitive, and had we shot a little better from the free throw line it would’ve been a little bit closer,” Parrott added.
Against the Blue Devils, BHS had four players post double figures in the scoring column as Cahlib Edwards and Walker Kyle led the way with 12 points each.
A.J. Pruitt and Tyler Nordin added 10 points apiece. It was Nordin’s 2019-2020 season debut.
On Friday, Nov. 29, Bearden picked up its first win of the new campaign when it outlasted Riverdale 64-55 in the tournament opener.
Elijah Bredwood scored 17 points and Izaiha Bredwood added 12.
