No ‘Greene’ space: BHS boys, girls throttle Greeneville
KNOXVILLE — When a team scores easily and efficiently, it’s sometimes described as “putting on a clinic.”
Such a clinic was much in evidence Friday night, Dec. 16, when Bearden High School’s boys’ basketball team hosted Greeneville.
The Bulldogs scored early and often, and dominated all four quarters, en route to a 64-24 win. The game was long over by halftime.
“We guarded well in the half-court I felt like,” Dawgs head coach Jeremy Parrott said. “That’s the best we’ve done on that this season. This is one of those teams where I feel like we’re gonna get better as the year advances.”
Bearden (6-3 starting this week) led 18-5 at the end of one. The halftime edge was 39-13.
Bearden kept pouring it on in the second half. An 11-3 run to start the third period made it 50-16. By the end of the third period, the lead had ballooned to 37, 58-21.
“They did a great job defensively there,” Green Devils head coach Brad Woolsley said. “They knocked down shots. You couldn’t ask for more from them.”
The Dawgs’ balanced scoring — nine players scored — was led by senior guard Jake Poole’s game-high 19. Tyson Pirtle, Nelson Karnowski and Justin Nordin added eight apiece.
“They’re defending state champions (Division I-AA) so we just had to put on a show tonight,” Poole said. “Bearden’s known for defense, so we had to put on a show tonight for our D.
“We have a lot of young talent out there,” he added. “Once the seniors leave they’re gonna be just as good. We’re going to state, mark my words.”
It was a one-two punch — penetration and post — that kept Bearden High School’s girls’ basketball team unbeaten, winning at home Friday night, Dec. 16.
Behind the strong inside play of senior post Avery Treadwell and the speedy penetration of freshman guard Natalya Hodge, the Lady Bulldogs defeated Greeneville 56-45. The win kept Bearden’s record perfect at 13-0.
“Proud of our kids; that’s a tough environment,” Bearden head coach Justin Underwood. “I thought our kids did a great job. It wasn’t pretty but it doesn’t have to be. We’re just trying to tell our kids to play hard.”
Underwood’s “wasn’t pretty” comment referenced Greeneville’s scrappy, blue-collar play. Time and again the Lady Devils aggressively fought for and secured rebounds and loose balls. In the end, they just couldn’t hit enough shots.
“We played as hard as we can play,” said Annette Watts, GHS head coach. “We gave it all we had. We scrapped. We pressed for 30 minutes. I’m proud of them. It just wasn’t our night to score.”
Bearden scored eight straight to make it 12-2 with 2:28 left in the first. The quarter ended 14-7 Lady Dawgs.
A 7-0 run in the second — all by Treadwell — made it 26-11. Bearden led at the half 30-17.
Runs of seven and six points in the third quarter by BHS made increased the lead to
46-31 at the end of three. Greeneville had
its own seven point run, all by Lauren Bailey.
The Lady Devils outscored the Lady Bulldogs 14-10 in the final period. All of Bearden’s points came from Hodge’s quickness and penetration, as she hit two free throws, three lay-ups and a short jumper.
“She has a lot of potential and athleticism and ability to finish,” Underwood said of the speedy freshman. “I thought our defensive intensity was fantastic. Offensively we had some spurts where we shot it well and shared it well.”
Hodge finished with 17, while Treadwell scored 15. Bailey led all scorers with 19.
“We definitely need to work on our defensive rebounding, but there we spurts where we did it well,” Treadwell said. “We’re a really young team. I’m really proud of how all of these girls have gotten better to become a good team.”
