With all the well-deserved accolades Bradley Central’s offensive production receives, the defense continues to earn equal praise.
The Bearettes, ranked No. 1 by the coachT.com website, torched Dobyns-Bennett 67-34 Thursday in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies’ Classic in Greeneville, Tenn., at the Hal Henard Gym.
Bradley Central (14-0) advanced to Friday’s semifinal against Morristown West. Game time is 7 p.m. Morristown West crushed Belfry (Ky.) 68-29 and will take a 12-1 record into the showdown with the Bearettes. The Lady Trojans’ only loss was a 50-48 decision against Jefferson County on Dec. 16.
Junior Rhyne Howard tossed in 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, recorded five steals and dished out three assists in a superlative effort. Howard made 9-of-13 shots, including 4-of-5 3-pointers.
Lee University signee Halle Hughes and sophomore Kimia Carter each scored 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Thursday’s scoring gives Hughes 1,497 career points and she could surpass the 1,500 mark in Friday's semifinal. She also had three rebounds, three assists and four steals.
For the season, Howard has scored 261 points, two more than Hughes. Howard averages 18.6 points and Hughes 18.5.
Carter connected on 6-of-12 field goals and drained 2-of-3 3-pointers.
Ironically, Bradley Central shot better from behind the arc (10 of 20) than at the free-throw line (3 of 11).
The Bearettes’ defense forced 20 turnovers (Bradley committed 11 miscues), four by Courtney Whitson. She led the Lady Indians with 15 points, got nine rebounds and blocked three shots.
Bradley scored 30 points off Dobyns-Bennett’s 20 turnovers
Dobyns-Bennett shot 33.3 percent (12 of 36) from the field while Bradley was 27 of 53 for 50.9 percent.
Bradley’s largest lead was 35 points with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter – Carter’s 3 pushed the Bearettes’ advantage to 43-9. The Lady Indians never had the lead. Bradley failed to score over the final 3-plus minutes and still won by 33 points.
LINESCORE
Bradley Central 26 17 13 11 – 67
Dobyns-Bennett 5 9 8 12 – 34
Bradley Central (67) – Halle Hughes 14, Brown 8, Morgan, Rhyne Howard 24, McRee 2, Roberts, Kimia Carter 14, K. Hughes 5, Mayo, Davis, Lombard, Hullender, Walker.
Dobyns-Bennett (34) – Tincher 3, Salyer 2, L. Griffith 2, Courtney Whitson 15, Scalf 2, Waye, B. Griffith, Breeding, Francis, Fullen 6, White 4.
3-Point Goals – Bradley Central 10 (Howard 4, Brown 2, Carter 2, H. Hughes 1, K. Hughes 1, Dobyns-Bennett 1 (Tincher 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)