Prep basketball: Strong cast leads Bearden girls at Tip-Off Classic

By Mike Blackerby
For USA TODAY Network - Tennessee

 

Bearden's Trinity Lee (2) grabs a rebound during the 2017 Knox County Schools Tennova Tip-Off classic in Thompson-Boling Arena Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017.

On any given night this season it might be somebody different leading the way for Bearden’s highly touted girls basketball team.

Wednesday at the Tip-Off Classic jamboree for Knox County schools, it was 6-foot-2 sophomore post Jakhyia Davis setting the pace for coach Justin Underwood’s Lady Bulldogs at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Davis scored five points as Bearden downed Gibbs 23-6 in two six-minute quarters of play.

Grace van Rij, Tytiaira Spikes, Trinity Lee and Jah’niya Bussell netted four points each for Bearden.

“We’re about seven deep,” said Bearden coach Justin Underwood, whose girls won their first 19 games in a row last season before finishing 24-4.

He said Davis should have a breakout season after contributing as a freshman.

“She’s a natural talent that can rebound, shoot and score.”

Lee and van Rij, who will sign respectively with King University and Furman respectively, are tone setters for Bearden.

“Trinity has worked really hard each year on expanding her game,” said Underwood. “Grace is extremely fundamental and can do so much with the basketball with her left or right hand.”

Other top performers Wednesday were:

  • Bearden boys ran past Gibbs 24-5 behind the play of the junior guard tandem of Ques Glover and Trent Stephney. Glover had eight points and four steals while Stephney had five points and three steals.
  • Drew Pember, a 6-8 junior wing, connected on a pair of 3-pointers for Bearden.
  • Macy Barnes of Webb connected on all four of her 3-point attempts and totaled 12 points to push the Lady Spartans past Powell, 22-19. Webb hit six 3-pointers.
  • Senior guard Haley Schubert totaled 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting for Powell.
  • Webb’s boys rode the 11-point performance (three 3-pointers) of senior guard Chase Ridenour in a 25-18 decision over Powell.
  • Sophomore guard Madison Hodge converted 3 of 5 shots and scored seven points to lead Farragut’s girls past Fulton, 11-8.
  • Senior post Luke Moeller hit all four of his field goal attempts and scored eight points as Farragut edged Fulton 18-15. Trey Davis and Bryson Hartsell netted five each for Fulton.
  • Ashton Blair, a 6-3 sophomore post, dropped in six points as Central’s girls clipped West, 13-9.
  • Central junior Sean Oglesby fired in 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as the Bobcats fell to West, 30-29, in a game that featured a combined nine 3-pointers.
  • Charles Dupree of West hit a pair of 3s and scored 10 points to pace the Rebels.
  • Freshman guard Macy Kirby tossed in 10 points and Panda Riggs added eight as Halls got the best of South-Doyle, 19-10. Mikalya Dunn had six points for the Lady Cherokees.
  • The Halls boys posted a 19-15 victory over South-Doyle as Dylan Wires scored eight points. Jayden Doyle had seven points for the Cherokees.

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor