Balanced scoring pushes Bearden to district title
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The Bearden Lady Bulldogs claimed their seventh consecutive District 4-4A Tournament title with a 64-55 win over Farragut on Monday night at McMinn County High School. - Photo Submitted
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Several players from the farragutpress coverage area earned All-Tournament honors. Pictured from left to right: Farragut’s KJ McNealy, Trinity Curry and Reagan Sheridan; Bearden’s Riley Hunt, Baylie Myers and Emma Rainey. Natalya Hodge, far right, earned Most Valuable Player. - Photo Submitted
Monday, Feb. 23, the Bearden Lady Bulldogs held off the Farragut Lady Admirals for a 64-55 win in the District 4-4A championship game at McMinn County High School.
The win marked Bearden’s third victory over FHS this season, but it was also the team’s seventh consecutive district tournament championship.
“I think it shows that I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of really good players, great families and a great staff,” Bearden girls coach Justin Underwood said.
Natalya Hodge and Emma Rainey led Bearden with 14 points apiece while MC LeMarbre totaled 12 with nine from Riley Hunt.
“She’s had three really good games against Farragut, so I’m proud of her ability to score the ball,” Underwood said of LeMarbre. “Everyone knows what (Hodge) and Emma can do, so she’s been a good third or fourth option and made teams pay with that.”
“We obviously have really good players, so teams will try to take away your best scoring threats,” he added. “We try to emphasize being prepared for the moment and taking advantage of your opportunities. So anytime you can be balanced, it makes it that much tougher for a team to try and slow you down.”
The balanced scoring helped BHS hold off the Lady Ads, who held a lead midway through the second quarter. Just before halftime, they were within three before a turnover and third-quarter slump left FHS at a 10-point deficit that proved too much to overcome.
Within that frame, the Lady Ads went just 1-for-6 from the floor.
“We got good looks, weren’t turning the ball over,” Farragut coach Jason Mayfield said. “We just didn’t put the ball in the basket, and it wound up being a big difference.”
Farragut still saw 18 points from Trinity Curry while KJ McNealy scored 13 with 11 each from Gabbie VanAcker and Reagan Sheridan.
“Trinity played well, doing her normal thing,” Mayfield said. “We got the ball to her and she made shots. The focus is on KJ so others have got to step up, but Reagan Sheridan did a really good job, too.”
Curry, McNealy and Sheridan earned All-Tournament nods for FHS while Rainey, Myers and Hunt took the same honors for Bearden. Hodge was named tournament MVP.
Now, both teams will look toward the Region 2-AAAA quarterfinals, which take place Friday.
Farragut will host Campbell County at home while Bearden will welcome Karns.
“We feel like we’ve got a pretty good side of our region, so we feel like we should continue to advance so long as we play like we did for most of the game Monday,” Mayfield said.
“If anything, it’s a breath of fresh air to play someone you haven’t played all year,” Underwood added of his own team. “Anytime you can play a new opponent, it’s always welcome just for a different scout and newer personnel.”
