Senior quartet goes out tops in TN for Bearden
Burgess ‘3’s spark pull-away from Farragut for title
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With BHS head coach Justin Underwood watching closely in the background, Bearden senior guard Jennifer Sullivan — recently named 2022 Tennessee Class 4A Miss Basketball — drives on Farragut senior wing Avery “Ace” Strickland during this Division I Class 4A state title game. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
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Looking to drive baseline for points is McCall Willis, Farragut senior post, as Avery Treadwell, Bearden junior post, looks to slow Willis’ drive. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
MURFREESBORO — If you know anything about East Tennessee high school girls basketball, you know about Bearden Lady Bulldogs dominance.
Well, the entire state got the message during the 2022 TSSAA Class 4A State Tournament in Murphy Center on the MTSU campus, as two Lady Dawgs state tourney blowouts led to the title game versus rival Farragut Saturday evening, March 12.
Mission accomplished, in convincing fashion yet again, after a 52-34 win against the Lady Admirals (28-9) — Bearden’s fifth versus FHS this season to finish with a 35-3 record.
However, “sisterhood” has its role in the Bearden success story. “It’s a big family; it’s like sisterhood. You trust your sisters to do whatever they can to help the team,” said Emily Gonzalez, senior guard and All-State Tournament honoree.
Avery Treadwell, 6-foot-3 post and 4A State Tourney MVP, scored co-game high 15 for the Lady Dawgs Saturday.
Bailey Burgess, senior guard and yet another All-State Tourney honoree, nailed three second-quarter three-pointers to help Bearden overcome a cold-shooting first half.
“In the first half we were kind of slow on offense, so I just knew I had to pick it up and hit shots when I was open,” said Burgess, who scored a co-game high 15.
However, while holding Farragut (28-9) to just 14 first-half points and leading 22-14 at the break, “… I thought tonight they did a fantastic job holding a very good offensive team to 34 points,” BHS head coach Justin Underwood said.
Senior guard Jennifer Sullivan, another of four Lady Dawgs All-State Tournament honorees who recently was named Class 4A Tennessee Miss Basketball, scored seven.
Leading 36-27 after three quarters, the BHS girls held a player-only meeting. “We were kinda getting together and saying ‘eight more minutes,’ like for everything we’ve worked for,” Sullivan said.
What followed was an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to lead 44-27 with 4:54 to play.
“I think after that, that swing, we were kind of knowing we did it,” Sullivan said. “I think Bailey and me, before the quarter was even over, we started to get emotional.
“I was just thinking back on the two other trips we’ve been to state and just hadn’t been able to complete it,” she added.
Maddie Brillhart, Bearden senior wing, scored eight in her final Lady Dawgs game.
