Hitting the century mark for the second straight game, nationally-second ranked Bradley Central stilled the Storm of East Hamilton in Monday's Region 3-4A semifinal action, at Raider Arena.
In their first two games of the region event, the two-time state championship Bearettes have sizzled the strings for 223 points, while giving up only 42, including a 101-18 rampage over the Lady Hurricanes.
"Proud of my girls. They came out did what they were supposed to do — shoot well, shared the ball well with 19 assists on 26 buckets, ran our press well (22 steals), we took care of the ball with only two turnovers," related Bearette head coach Jason Reuter.
"It's tournament time so I challenged my girls to be aware it's do-or-die and they responded well and took care of business."
Earning a ninth straight Region 3-4A championship final and TSSAA Sectional berth, Bradley (30-1) will now square off with archrival and 2024 Final Four Cleveland (24-7) for the crown. The 12th-ranked and District 5 champ Lady Raiders got past upset-minded Ooltewah 61-40 in Monday's other semifinal.
"Playing Cleveland on their home court, with Lauren Hurst back, they are a different team than what we saw during the season," related Coach Reuter.
"They are a dangerous team, unlike any other team in this area that we play. They can put five girls on the floor that can hit a 3-point shot from anywhere. It'll be a showdown here Wednesday night."
The two district champs will not only be battling for the region crown, but also to be able to host a substate game Saturday, against either 10th-ranked Lebanon (24-6) or Cookeville (22-7), which was tied with Cleveland for the 12th spot in the final TSWA Class 4A State Poll.
The Blue Devilettes and Lady Cavaliers split their regular season matchups, with Lebanon taking the District 7 title by a slim 45-44 margin.
Cookeville upset fifth-ranked Blackman 56-49 in Monday's Region 4 semifinals, while Lebanon got past Stewarts Creek 57-47.
BEARETTES 101, LADY HURRAICANES 18: Putting up the first 17 points on the game, while allowing East Ham to get off just two shots, Bradley took the wind out of the Storm right from the get-go.
The Bearettes stretched the advantage to 39-2 before Arianna Calhoun drilled the Lady 'Canes only 3-pointer of the night with just 20 seconds left in the opening period.
The teams were more competitive to start the second quarter, with Bradley putting up just a 5-4 edge, but a pair if free throws less than 90 seconds into the frame was the last East Ham would score in the opening half as the Bearettes put up the final 21 for a 65-9 lead at the intermission.
In a repeat of the second frame, Bradley once again went on a 26-4 streak in the third period, before closing out with a 10-5 advantage in the "running clock" final quarter.
Two-time Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist Kimora Fields led the victory by sinking 12-of-13 shots from the field, including both her long-range attempts, plus was a perfect 3-for-3 at the charity line for 29 points, to go with eight rebounds, a trio of assists, three steals and a blocked shot in just over 18 minutes on the court.
Kennesaw State signee Tatianna Stovall helped out with 19 markers, going 9-of-13 from the floor, and also cleared eight caroms and handed out seven helps, while swiping a half dozen thefts.
Arkansas signee Harmonie Ware also netted 19 points, on 7-of-10 from the field, with a 3-pointers, plus going 4-for-4 at the stripe, while snatching four ricochets, dishing a pair of "dimes," and copping two steals.
Senior sharpshooter Avary Brewer, who is headed to play for Samford University, pitched in with a trio of triples on her way to 11 markers, five assists, three boards and two thefts.
Walters State signee Malia Wilcox was back in the lineup after missing the previous game due to illness, netting a half dozen markers, including one from long distance, handed off a trio of helps, clearing two rebounds and making a steal.
Junior Abby White came off the bench to dill a pair from long range for six points and dealt out a pair of "dimes."
Bradley shot 67.4% (29-of-42) from in front of the 19-foot line, plus made half of their 22 shots from distance and added 10for-14 at the chrity stripe.
The Bearettes dominated the backboards for a 34-18 advantage and force 30 East Ham turnovers, off which Bradley scored 50 points.
The Lady Hurricanes got off just 30 shots, making only six (20%) from the field, but netted 5-of-6 at the foul line.
Ariannan Calhoun dropped in 12 of East Ham's 18 points.
GAME SUMMARY
Region 3-4A
Girls Tournament
Monday, March 3
at Raider Arena
Semifinals
East Hamilton 5 4 4 5 — 18
Bradley Central 39 26 26 10 — 101
LADY HURRICANES (18) — Arianna Calhoun 12, Price 2, Hilvers 2, LaBoo 2, Cooper-White, Eller.
BEARETTES (101) — Kimora Fields 29, TaTianna Stovall 19, Harmonie Ware 19, Avary Brewer 11, Malia Wilcox 6, Abby White 6, Libby Stewart 5, Hallie Rymer 3, Addie Geren 3, Broome, Osborn.
3-POINTERS: EH 1 (Calhoun); BC 11 (Brewer 3, Fields 2, White 2, Ware, Wilcox, Geren, Stewart).
FREE THROWS: EH 5-of-6 (83.3%); BC 10-of-14 (71.4%).
RECORDS: East Hamilton 19-13; No. 1 Bradley Central 30-1.