Both "Crosstown Clashes" were tight heated battles early on, before host Bradley Central pulled away for easy victories over archrival Cleveland Saturday evening, in Jim Smiddy Arena.
On a night honoring one of their all-time greats Halle Hughes, the sixth-ranked nationally Bearettes held the Lady Raiders, ranked seventh in the current TSWA Class 4A State Poll, to just a half dozen points in each of the final three frames on their way to an 82-35 "running clock" runaway.
Likewise after celebrating a pair of 1,000-point career scorers — Ramerion Taylor and Caiden Bauldwin — the boys tangle was nip-and-tip throughout the first half before the Bears held the Runnin' Raiders to single digits in the final two periods for a 76-49 blowout.
BEARS 76, RAIDERS 49: After a three-point difference the first time they met in early December, the rematch looked like a repeat for the first 16 minutes as Bradley (16-8) edged Cleveland (11-12) by a narrow 20-17 margin in each of the first two frames.
While the Bears sank 14-of-29 (48.3%) shots from the field, including five from long distance, the Runnin' Raiders were even hotter, sizzlin' the strings on 12-of-18 (66.7%), with four from beyond the arc in the opening half.
The same style continued at after the intermission, with the hosts nipping the visitors 7-6 in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second half.
The game turned when Bauldwin copped a steal and raced downcourt for a slam dunk at the 4:11 mark, sparking a 10-0 Bradley run for a 17-point edge going into the final frame.
Holding Cleveland scoreless for more than five minutes, the Bears continued to pull away throughout the final eight minutes, including scoring 16 of the game's final 22 points.
Bauldwin ripped the cords for 29 points, hitting 12-of-17 shots from the field and going 4-for-6 at the charity stripe, plus he copped five thefts, c leared four rebounds and dished off a pair of assists.
Taylor followed with 16 points, including netting 7-of-8 free throws, pulling down five caroms and dishing off a trio of helps.
Senior Hunter Fields was deadly from downtown on 3-of-5 attempts, plus put in both his two-point tries on his way to 13 points.
Senior Tyrese Stovall, who like Bauldwin committed to play at national junior college powerhouse Walters State this past week, helped out with eight points, a half dozen ricochets and couple of blocked shots.
Only one Raider reached double digits as junior Barak Ndegwa netted a dozen points, going 4-for-7 from the field with a trio of triples, plus he pulled down four boards.
Classmate Abe Reinbold added eight points and three "swipes," while senior Andrew Miolen pitched in with six points.
Cleveland's shooting cooled in the second half to just 5-for-19 (26.3%), including only 1-of-9 from long range.
Meanwhile, the Bears upped their percentage to 63.6% (14-of-22) from the field, plus went 13-for-17 (76.5%) at the stripe on the night.
Bradley won the battle of the boards by a 30-17 margin, plus had just nine turnovers in the contest, while copping eight steals in 14 Raider miscues.
BEARETTES 82, LADY RAIDERS 35: Five lead changes in the opening 3 1/2 minutes, led to a one-point difference at 18-17 when Cleveland sophomore Laney Copeland hit a baseline jumper with 94 second remaining in a nip-and-tuck opening frame.
Bradley (24-1) held a 20-17 edge thanks to an offensive rebound putback by Kennesaw State signee Tatianna Stovall.
After 2024 Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist Kimora Fields netted the opening basket of the second period to inch the Bearettes ahead by five points, Copeland responded with an old-fashioned three-point play pulling the visitors back to within a basket of the lead.
That and another hoop-and-harm conversion four minutes later by 2024 All-State tournament performer Illianis Rodrigues were the only other points for the visitors the rest of the half.
Meanwhile, Bradley exploded on a 21-3 run which included a pair of long-range bombs from Arkansas signee Harmoine Ware, plus 10 points from Fields, for a 20-point halftime advantage.
The onslaught continued in the second half as Copeland and freshman Ariyah Huffman both drained a 3-pointer in the opening two minutes before an 11 1/2-minute drought while the Bearettes smoked the nylon for 34 straight points.
The dominant Bearettes had a trio of players post double-doubles.
Fields led the way with 22 points, sinking 10-of-11 shots from the field, plus both of her free throws.
The state's top recruit for the Class of 2026 also cleared 13 rebounds, dished out a trio of assists, copped a pair of steals and blocked a couple of shots.
Ware collected 18 points, including a trio of triples, pulled down 11 caroms. The 2024 TSSAA State Tournament MVP also handed out a half dozen "dimes."
Stovall went 8-for-12 from the field on her way to 17 markers, while earned the chairwoman of the boards award with 15 ricochets, nine of which came off the offensive glass. The 2024 All-State Tournament Team member handed out three assists, swiped a couple of thefts and "swatted" two Lady Raider attempts.
Samford signee and two-time All-State Tournament team member Avary Brewer drilled five from long distance for 15 points.
The hot-handed Bradley squad scorched the nets on 24-of-33 (72.7%) from inside the arc, plus went 9-for-26 (34.6%) and 7-for-10 (70%) from the charity stripe.
The Bearettes dominated the glass for a 47-16 difference, plus had 20 assists on 33 made baskets.
Playing without Tennessee signee Lauren Hurst for the second straight game, the Lady Raiders made just 11-of-44 (25%) from the field, including 7-for-21 (33.3%) from distance.
Copeland led Cleveland with 15 points, while Huffman netted 11, with four boards and a half dozen thefts.
GAME SUMMARIES
Saturday, Feb. 8
at Jim Smiddy Arena
Girls Game
Cleveland 17 6 6 6 — 35
Bradley Central 20 23 24 15 — 82
LADY RAIDERS (35) — Laney Copeland 15, Ariyah Huffman 11, Emma Smith 6, Rodriguez 3, I. Smith, Davis, Gravelle.
BEARETTES (82) — Kimora Fields 2, Harmonie Ware 18, TaTianna Stovall 17, Avary Brewer 15, Addie Geren 5, Wilcox 4, Osborn 1, White, Stewart, Broome.
3-POINTERS: CHS 7 (Copeland 3, Huffman 3, E. Smith); BC 9 (Brewer 5, Ware 3, Geren).
FREE THROWS: CHS 6-of-13; BC 7-of-10.
RECORDS: No. 8 Cleveland 19-6; No. 1 Bradley Central 24-1.
Boys Game
Cleveland 17 17 6 9 — 49
Bradley Central 20 20 17 19 — 76
RUNNIN' RAIDERS (49) — Barak Ndegwa 12, Abe Reinbold 8, Andrew Miolen 6, Gabe Krepps 6, Evans 4, Westfield 4, Lovelace 4, Matthews 3, Williams 2, James, Giannasio, Deloach.
BEARS (76) — Caiden Bauldwin 29, Ramerion Taylor 16, Hunter Fields 13, Tyrese Stovall 8, Carson Cannon 5, Walker 3, White 2, Smith, A. Butts, K. Butts, Cassada, Baggett.
3-POINTERS: CHS 5 (Ndegwa 3, Reinbold, Evans); BC 7 (Fields 3, Bauldwin, Taylor, Walker, Cannon).
FREE THROWS: CHS 10-of-15; BC 13-of-17.
RECORDS: Cleveland 11-12; Bradley Central 16-8.
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