Rhea County Lady Eagles finish 2014 at Regionals

February 24, 2014

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Rhea County Lady Eagles gave the Eagle Nation a season to be proud.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Cleveland, TN — Friday night Rhea County Lady Eagles traveled to play Bradley Central at home in the first round of the regional tournament. Bradley Central came into the game with a 22-5 record and fresh off a District finals win over McMinn County by a 62-38 score. Bradley was led this season by a pair of 6’ 2” posts who were each headed to Division 1 Universities next year. Rhea County came into the game with a 22-8 record and would be led by Amber Levi and Julie Brown. Rhea County would have to play without their point guard Kelsey Miles as she continued to be hampered by the injury she suffered against Cumberland County Lady Jets in the District Tournament.

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In the first quarter, neither team did much offensively early. There were three minutes gone in the quarter before Bradley Central put the first dent in the scoreboard as point guard Chelsie Summars canned a three point basket from the right elbow for a 3-0 lead. When Jessee Wallis got Rhea County on the board, Bradley quickly answered by Bradley with another three point basket. Two free throws and a break-away basket later the Bradley lead had grown to 10-2 with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter. With 30 seconds left on the clock Bradley County made nice pass to corner for a three pointer to push the lead to 13-2 and that is how the first quarter ended.

Hughes used a baseline screen to get open for lay-in early in the second quarter. Kenzi Freeman answered with two free throws to give Rhea County it’s first points of the quarter and Levi hit her first basket but Reuter hit a three from the corner to make the lead 18-6 about four minutes gone in quarter. The Bearettes built their lead up to 21-6 before a Julie Brown three pointer in the last minute pulled Rhea County within 21-9. Bradley came down and quickly answered with their own three and then traded a free throw for a late basket to take a 26-10 halftime lead. For the half the Bearettes hit six three point baskets.

[shashin type=”photo” id=”1344″ size=”medium” columns=”max” order=”user” caption=”y” position=”right”]After Bradley put a basket on the board Wallis hit a corner three for Rhea County. When Julie Brown rejected a Brooke Copeland shot, it was Amber Levi taking the blocked shot all the way to the basket to pick up the foul. Levi hit both free throws to pull Rhea County to within 28-15. Bradley outscore Rhea County 8-0 over the next couple of minutes to run their lead to 36-15 before Levi and Wallace hit baskets pulled the Lady Eagles to 36-19 but it was a late basket by Bradley made the third quarter score 38-19.

Reuter began the third quarter with a basket and free throw make and the Lady Eagles used a long range three and short jumper by Wallace and three free throws by Brown to pull within 41-27 with 5:40 left in the game. The lead ballooned up to 51- 29 with 2:08 left in the game. Over the last couple of minutes the Bradley outscored Rhea County 11-5 to complete the 62-34 win. The Lady Eagles fought to the end and completed a very successful season. Next up for Bradley Central will be a game with White County on Monday Night .

Jessee Wallis and Amber Levi had 13 and 11 points respectively to lead the Lady Eagles in scoring. The two posts, Copeland and Reuter each scored 17 points to lead Bradley Central.