Ericblair

Have seen them both play....SH perhaps more athletic while LC more controlled. LC will suffer from a lack of outside threat but the inside game is pretty strong. I see this one going to SH in a well coached fun game to watch. Good luck to both and congrates on reaching State.

CDL...you are correct. An apology is indeed in order for malicious which judges intent was never used and I certainly did not intend nor am I in a position to judge intent here. So Taylor please accept this apology. I have since removed it and the name from the post as neither should have been included in the first place. By now I am sure that the two players have talked and moved on and perhaps it best we do so here as well. Again, CDL, thank you for your attention to this.

CDL...see the below links...the Times gives the name, and the others mention cold cocked and flagrant which I believe carries pretty much the same sentiment. I did not intend to mischaracterize those collective sentiments and the blow was indeed career ending. In an earlier post I had mentioned too that I did not believe that it was a flagrant situation becasue I did not have a great angle to it. But after reading the articles my curiosity was peaked so I vetted the game film and the blow was cetainly more aggresive that just a clear, and head high versus a taller player so I can understand the writers view here. If I've missed something factual here, please let me know. http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/17720058/article-Bradley-Bearettes-battle-to-region-championship-Physical-game-has-casualties?instance=main_article http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/3/2/220682/History-In-The-Making-Owls-Claim-3-AAA.aspx http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/02/irked-bearettes-blast-lady-jets/?sportspreps

As the last fan was leaving and the lights being turned off from Jim Smitty Arena after the Bearettes one point sectional overtime loss, like others before him, head coach Jason Reuter was left reflecting on how painfully true was John Greenleaf Whittier when he said, “the saddest word or tongue or pen are these “it might have beenâ€. In perhaps his best coached game of the year, Reuter and his injured Bearettes battled a worthy and classy opponent in Lawrence County in a very well officiated game that felt more like a chess match than it did a basketball game. (Is there any way that this officiating crew can help train that Elvis bunch up at the Region 3 finals) Having no days to prepare because of the weather and without a key starter, Reuter did a nice job changing up defenses and substitution patterns that created real problems for the methodical and well coached Wildcats and kept the game close. Yet, the harsh reality is that there are winners and losers and all but one team in basketball goes home to humble pie. Perhaps of all the ifs, Reuters greatest if might be, “What if one of my starters and district MVP had not been on the receiving end of a life threatening career ending flagrant(according to the Chattanooga Times and Chattanoogan) cold cocked elbow at Cumberland County in the Region finals? Fortunately for other unsuspecting opponents, the Jets lagged and their season is now over after being down 46-5 in the first quarter. I know it does in the Region but does the mercy rule apply in sectionals too...two in a row if it does. Reuter and these Bearettes have brought pride back to the girls program and its Seniors have left a shining example of what it means to represent something larger than yourself. And while its unfortnate that the injured Bearette missed out on a life opportunity, guilt will not be hers to bear. The end is always painful but it is an elegant reminder of how great was the time and the relationships along the way. So good luck to the Wildcats in the State and thanks to this year’s Bearettes and coaches and most of all to its Seniors for your accomplishments, character and class. And while it may not feel so now, time will soon replace the present void and hurt with a great pride of having made a great tradition even better.

Yes losing is losing and it never feels good and I wish for nothing but reconciliaction for those on the losing end including the Lady Jets. Drowning in six inches of water versus six feet is still drowning. Yet there remains a young Bearette whose season and career was cut short by a cheap shop that wonders what does any of this this have to do with playing basketball.

Yes Bradley lost in OT by 1 and we appreciate the Jets support of Region 3. LC played a clean and very well coached game and best of luck to them in the state tourny. A post card from LC to the Lady (????) Jets might be appropriate for having slugged out one of Bradley's better players. By the way....did anyone from Riverdale go to the hospital or any CC players teed up in the Jet's 70 (are you joking) point loss. Thats got to be a record..over 100 point loss in regional and sub state games.

Having now seen the replay of this game, it is remarkable that the injured Bearette walked away from the clear out elbow which started at #15 for Cumberland County's waist and went up towards the players head. Very little pressure was being applied and outlet passes where open and while perhaps not intending to send someone to the hospital, it sure appears that #15 went for and certainly got the head. All the damage was from the elbow as the Bearette's head never hit the ground. Yes any sport has its risk but this type of cheap malicious play has no place anywhere.

The Lawrence County conspiracy theory on the refs is a bit extreme I agree …these refs where and are just bad…led by the little Elvis who seemed more worried about his hair than calling or controlling a game. Jetfan2, I agree that every player is coached to chin the ball but not to swing up as was the case here and blaming it on being too close is just incredulous for if that where the case there would be more hospital visits. And to “just play on†or that “this is not patty cakes†are nice platitudes or excuses for simple minds to more complex issues. I suspect that the Jet player meant to do no real harm here but it just seems to be instructive that three Jets fouled out, one was given a technical foul, and one of Bradley’s player was sent to the hospital on a night that their basketball skills where materially exposed. Blame it on whatever you want to but it seems to me that the Jets just lost a little more than the game and their composure Thursday night, they lost their character. And as with any team sport, that starts with the coach.

After watching Bradley sluggishly beat Coffee County, a Crossville local sportwriter noted that the Bearettes were nothing "special". The comments made it to Bradley's locker room and made for nice motivation in last nights Region 3AAA championship laugher. After leading by 14, further motivation was added when a Bearette was victim of a blantant flagrant uncalled foul that sent her to the hospital and her teamates filled with a terrible resolve. (If three refs that are paid to ref a game miss or claim to miss a foul that sends someone to the hospital, what on earth are they doing officiating a Region Championship game...seriously? Please send these clowns back to the YMCA.) In the second half it became clear who was a basketball team and who was not. Poise and skill dominated frustration and bully and for the first time perhaps ever, a Region 3 AAA championship game had a running clock, mercy please. As frustration mounted, so did the bully which unfortunately was seemingly encouraged. If technicals, pushes, flagrant fouls and shoves where awarded points then this game might have been close but in the end, this was no game at all as the the host team was outclassed by almost any measure. For the last two years, Bradley has won its district and region and compiled a 61-7 record. While one can debate the meaning of "special"....one thing is for sure....these Bearettes are winners.

Yes Riverdale sure seems to be in a class to themselves with Clarksville not too far behind. While I do think that having played tighter games helps, I do believe that the talent and perhaps because they've been in tighter games that coaching is more experienced there. Take Clarksville, 4 perhaps 5 D-1 (TN, GA etc) players...same with Riverdale and Science Hill and several of the Memphis schools as well. Bradley has been blessed this year with a very sound senior leadership group comprised of all but one of the area's seniors along with two very talented young post players. But as they move into sub state and perhaps state rounds, I think you'll see the talent gap become very evident as I suspect was the case in 2000, 2004, and last year. Bradley has done a nice job this year with full court traps and pressure that has worked against mostly weaker 1-2-3 district positions that will not work in sub state and state games. Thier half court offence will be under pressure with every position seeing greater athetisism than at any other time save GPS. Regardless, this has been a nice unselfish team to watch and winning 30+ games just doesn't happen that often.

I think there was a parking lot available without paying.

How many sub state games has Bradley hosted in the past say 10 years?

Cookeville is a good team but I'm suprised at the 20 difference....was the game closer than that?

Was a little suprised that only Bradley won Region games.

Hated to see Cleveland loose this one...looked like things were under control then kinda fizzled.

Yes there are others but in any case...what useful purpose does naming (by sports writers no less) a Miss/Mr anything in a team sport. Heck, most of our writers could not tell the difference between a 1-3-1, 2-3, trap defense or recognize a flex offense and I doubt that most could not define what constitutes let alone really appreciate an assist. So becasue its easier for pedestrian minds, points become the main focus and the more that is made of that stuff like that to support Miss this and Mr that the more players default to doing what is in their best interest and not the team. So again....why?

Here is the TSSAA comments on Mr/Miss Basketball.... "A statewide committee of sportswriters selected winners based on performance during the 2011-2012 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration." I am sure that the finalist and ultimate winners are fine players and more importantly young men and women and nothing here should take away from that. But how on earth is a sportwriter in Memphis going to define let alone judge performance and more challening (even for the enlightened mind of a sportwriter) character of a player in Bristol. And really, what worthy purpose does any of this really serve? Let golf, tennis, track recognize individual accomplishment and stop providing reasons why team players should be thinking of anything other that team and what it accomplishes.

Mr. & Miss Basketball/All Tournamant Teams/MVPs and other individual awards reflect poorly on what should be a team sport. Most of the time these awards do very little for the recipient whose talents are already well known but can be very distracting to other team members that feel natually slighted in the process. How on earth can a committee that has never seen play (or perhaps never played themselves) or met any of the candidates possibly pick a best player. I say do away with them all.

With players, coaches, and fans electric, this District 5 AAA final was well worth the $5. Bradley just seemed a bit more controlled and disiplined versus their perhaps more athletic counterparts and the Bears did a nice job keeping thier composure when things got tight in the end. I believe you will see them both again in the Region Finals. I have to believe that while this district might not have have an abundance of D1 talent, the quality of play and coaching is about as good as it gets. In a related and sad note, the Associated Press reported this morning that Ringling Brother had to suspend its circus operations last night due to the disappearance of its three main clowns. Rumor has it that they where at last nights game dissguised as officials but that is an unconfirmed report. Last nights game was not terribly officiated but at clutch moments the game did take on a circus atmosphere, adding credibilty to this rumor. Wherever their whereabouts, hopefully they will return to work and kids across the globe can once again enjoy the "Greatest Show on Earth".

Was really suprised by this score...Bradley is good but Cleveland is a much better team than a 25+ point loss.

Wow....so the timeout was called to reset the defense (very normal) and the refs misallocated the timeout. I hope that crew is done for the season.

Why would a winning team ever call time out with 2 sec to go and the clock running????

CHS and BCHS should be a good game. Cleveland is much better and Bradley did appear a bit rusty although CHS did not look great against a well over matched Rhea team. I like BCHS here...too many weapons but look for CHS's athletisism to bother.

I believe that Bradley has hosted just one girl's sub state game in recent memory that being last year against Blackmon. In its bid for region/state, Bradley will be hurt from the lack of competition in its district that has allowed them to grow complacient and not expose weaknesses that quality opponents will surely do. Although Cleveland is much improved and not ready to conceed anything. This may be Bradleys best chance at State for a while.

400 wins is great accomplishment....have not seen all of his teams play but heard no matter the talent, you better be ready to play these guys.