Bearettes celebrate back-to-back titles

A dozen former Bearettes and Gloria Smiddy, the wife of legendary head coach Jim Smiddy, paid homage to Coach Jason Reuter's squads amazing run of 69-2 while capturing the last two state titles.

Former Bearettes in attendance included Lucretia Banks, Zandra Ownby, Rachel Goins, Karen Saffles, Susan Rollins, Karen Wilson, Amy Tinsley, Karen Hubbard, Kathy Kirpatrick, Paula Maddox, Tammy Murphy and Marie Mullins.

The only other time in Bradley history they have won bask-to-back championships came in 1975 and '76 as part of a 90-game win streak that also earned the those Bearettes national titles as well.

Having won three TSSAA crowns in the last half dozen seasons, Bradley holds the state record for the most state tournament appearance at 34, including nine since Reuter took the reins 14 years ago.

Posting the highest winning percentage (90.75%) in the 101-year program history, Reuter's teams have posted a 422-43 record.

Despite losing a pair of starters — Hannah Jones and Sloan Carpenter, now teammates at Johnson University — and four seniors altogether after going 35-1 and claiming the 2023 crown, this past season the Bearettes went 34-1 with just one senior on the roster.

Although not a starter after suffering a severe injury near the end of his junior season, Grace Phillips was a key reserve this season and has signed to play collegiately at Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Adding second straight All-State Tournament honors, juniors Harmonie Ware and Avary Brewer and sophomore Kimora Fields once again led this year's state title run, with Ware being named the State Tournament MVP,  like Fields was the year before.

Junior transfer Tatianna Stovall coming in last summer after winning back-to-back state DII crowns at The Webb School, the 6-foot-1 post provided strong defense and an inside presence on the the paint.

A Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist, Fields is considered the state top Class of 2026 recruit, while Stovall is No. 2 in the Class of 2025.

Junior Malia Wilcox stepped into the starting point guard role and committed just 43 turnovers in 35 games. She did a great job running the offense and was a spark on defense as well.

Several of the girls have already declared the team will be back in the "Glass House" next March to go for a "three-peat." With almost the entire team returning, they will be the favorite to do so, again.