Without star Avery Treadwell for last 6 minutes, Bearden girls basketball tops rival Farragut

In the Region 2-4A semifinals, Bearden coach Justin Underwood witnessed something he believes he had never seen before: Miss Basketball finalist and Florida State signee Avery Treadwell receive a technical foul. 

With 6:23 left in the game and the Lady Bulldogs leading 38-36 over rival Farragut, Treadwell picked up her fourth foul and was immediately given a technical foul after seemingly expressing her frustrations to herself, Underwood said. 

“Not a normalcy for her,” Underwood said. “I think she was more mad herself in that situation.”

Bearden, without its lone senior, survived, eliminating the Lady Admirals in a 50-44 win at home.

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The Lady Bulldogs elevated their defense without their premier rim protector. They allowed the Lady Admirals (20-9) only six points for the remaining six minutes. 

“I told our kids, I said, ‘I was extremely proud,’” Underwood said. “We’re able to just dig deep and lean on each other and show that there is more to this team than just Avery Treadwell.”

Bearden (33-0) advances to the region championship game against Heritage.

Bearden’s star senior Avery Treadwell producing 

Treadwell showed why she is one of the top players in the state prior to fouling out. The 6-foot-3 center pirouetted multiple times for interior scores. She scored 12 of her 16 points in the first half, helping keep an aggressive Farragut team behind 24-23 at halftime. 

When passes were thrown to Treadwell, she kept the ball high and out of reach of shorter defenders, remaining cool through heavy pressure. 

“I definitely just tried to focus on staying in the post and not settling for mid-range shots and trying to run the floor and, you know, be strong,” Treadwell said. 

Composure from Bearden’s underclassmen 

While Treadwell scored her last four points in the fourth quarter to help Bearden regain the lead, the underclassmen gave strong support. Freshman guard Natalya Hodge scored 11 points, and sophomore Kendall Anne Murphey scored 10. The team overall stepped up its defensive intensity.

Underwood acknowledged that each game Bearden plays brings added pressure as it remains unbeaten. His team has not faltered when challenges on the court arise.

“This group's 33-0, and that's pressure,” Underwood said. “They find a way late in games. So the mental toughness that this group has found collectively is impressive, it’s something to be celebrated. I’m truly proud to be their coach.”