Cleveland sophomore guard Rachael Isom had several opportunities in the first two overtimes to become the game's hero against rival Bradley Central on Wednesday night.

She was unable to deliver, however, even missing a key free throw in the first overtime that could have sealed the victory.

Still, Cleveland acting head coach Jennifer Wilson told Isom to keep shooting. Wilson's advice paid huge dividends for Cleveland in the third overtime.

Isom scored seven points in the third extra period and lifted Cleveland past Bradley Central, 74-65, in a Region 3-AAA high school basketball semifinal at Red Bank High School.

The victory gave Cleveland (25-7) a berth in Thursday's 8:30 p.m. final against No. 3-ranked Cumberland County (30-4).

The Lady Jets rode the play of Carson-Newman signee Casha Foster to a 72-68 two-overtime victory over McMinn County.

The Region 3-AAA boys semifinals will precede the girls final Thursday night. The schedule: 5:30 -- Bradley Central (23-10) vs. Cleveland (20-10); 7 -- Red Bank (28-3) vs. McMinn County (20-11).

The boys championship game will be played Friday night at 7:30.

All the semifinalists advance to sectional play. The girls play Saturday and the boys play on Monday.

CLEVELAND GIRLS 74, BRADLEY 65: The Bearettes (22-11) took a 52-50 lead with :08 seconds left in regulation on a field goal by senior Jackie Pickel.

Cleveland then sent the game into overtime when Angie Wells scored with one second left.

It was tied at 62 in the first overtime after Kelly Eldridge's field goal for Bradley with 1:07 left. Cleveland missed three shots in the lane in the final seconds, however.

In the second overtime, Kerri Simpson gave Cleveland a 56-54 lead with 1:18 left. Isom had a chance to seal the win with :27 left, but missed the first of a bonus free-throw opportunity. Eldridge then sent the game into overtime for Bradley with a field goal with :11 left.

Pickel got Bradley off to a 63-60 lead with an early three-pointer in the third overtime. Michelle Smith countered with a traditional three-point play and tied the game.

Isom then took over. She made a layup with 2:30 left to give Cleveland a 65-63 lead and then added five free throws down the stretch.

"That third overtime says a lot about Rachael's character,'' said Wilson, who is serving as Cleveland's interim head coach after head coach Rachel Moore gave birth last week. "She had her chances earlier, and I told her to keep shooting.

"I told her to focus on the present and she did. She showed a lot of confidence. Gamers do that.''

Davis led Cleveland with 19 points, Isom had 17 and Simpson scored 16. Angie Wells added nine.

Pickel, a Middle Tennessee State signee, led Bradley with 35 points.

"That was the kind of do-or-die games that the fans love,'' Wilson said. "But for coaches and players, that was a tough game.''

Despite having to play three overtimes, Wilson said the Lady Raiders would be ready for Thursday's final and the sectional on Saturday.

"We know we'll still have another game regardless of what happens tomorrow,'' Wilson said. "But we want to win and play at home.

"We'll have to come out with our A-game in the sub-state. We will be prepared.''

Said Bradley coach Bryan Glasner, "We had some fatigue mistakes that hurt us. But we competed well and we had a chance to win. I think we've really improved since early this season.''

CUMBERLAND GIRLS 72, McMINN 68: "I thought we were going home tonight,'' Cumberland County coach Tim Smith said.

McMinn County (21-10) led by 10-1 and 14-6 early. It was tied at 16 after one quarter, but McMinn pushed the margin back to 38-26 at halftime. Entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Cherokees led, 50-38.

That's when Foster took charge.

The little guard scored four straight field goals as Cumberland County pulled within 52-48. Erica Martin made a free throw with 1:52 left that forced the first overtime.

"Foster is a tough little guard,'' Cumberland County coach Tim Smith said. "She's the motor of our team.''

Both teams scored five points and the first overtime ended in a tie at 60. The Lady Jets' Destiny Dishman forced the second OT with a traditional three-point play with 1:52 left.

In the second overtime, Foster made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:20 to seal the victory.

"McMinn shot the ball so well,'' Smith said. "They are a great team with good athletes. We were fortunate tonight.''

Foster led Cumberland County with 22 points while Chelsey Brown, Lauren Elmore and Jennifer Hood contributed 10 apiece.

Niala Harris paced McMinn County with 26 points and Shonda Smith scored 19.

SUMMARIES

BRADLEY CENTRAL (65) -- Jackie Pickel 35, Brynn McCracken, Tiffany Johnson 4, Haley Ervin 6, Kelly Eldridge 9, Stephanie Amato, Charlcie Dale, Ashley Raburn 2, Katie Davis 2, Lauren Cassada, Yiesha Bradford 2, LaSuela Person 5.

CLEVELAND (74) -- Kerri Simpson 16, Rachael Isom 17, Angie Wells 9, Kyndall Edwards 2, Heather Carver, Cacy Burtnett 4, Chelsey Richt, Michelle Davis 19, Michelle Smtih 7.

Bradley....15 11 13 13 4 4 14 --74
Cleveland..18 9 15 10 4 4 5 -- 65
Three-point goals -- Pickel 3, Isom 3, Ervin 2, Eldridge.

McMINN COUNTY (68) -- Christie Elsea, Amy Jo Castor 9, English Nichols, Derika Mooney 2, Shonda Smith 19, Jordan Lansdell, Christina Kitsos 3, Brenna Smith, Leah Frazier 9, Niala Harris 26, Ashley Crittenden, Abriel Holloway.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY (72) -- Lindsay Smith 5, Chelsey Brown 10, Mark K Krueger, Casha Foster 22, Krystal Henry 2, Erica Martin, Katie Stone, Caitlin Sanders, Tiffany Norris, Lauren Elmore 10, Destiny Dishman 3, Becca Hayes, Whitney Keck, Kari Bowman, Jennifer Hood 10.

McMinn.......16 22 12 5 5 8 -- 68
Cumberland...16 10 12 17 5 12 -- 72
Three-point goals -- Smith 3, Castor 2, Harris, Smith, Foster, Martin.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)