Super 25 No. 12 Bartlett (TN) outlasts Bearden in semifinal showdown
It was a Super 25 showdown on Friday night, with Bartlett and Bearden ranked highly in numerous national outlets.
Fans in attendance at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center on Friday for the Class 4A semifinal between nationally-ranked Bartlett and Bearden were treated to an offensive showcase. Bartlett, the No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings , entered the tournament as the heavy favorites to win their first state championship since 2001.
However, a blind draw before the tournament began pitted the Panthers and Bulldogs on the same side of the Class 4A bracket. After both programs won their opening quarterfinal matchups, the showdown was set. Against any other side, Bartlett's shooting night may have been enough as the Bulldogs shot 53% from the floor, including 11-of-20 from three.
However, Bartlett shot 73% from the floor on the night, including 5-of-8 from the three-point line, and pulled away late to beat the Bulldogs 71-61. "That's a high-powered offense and most of the time they got four or five guys that can pass, dribble and shoot," Bartlett coach Dione Real said after the win. "Coach (Jeremy) Parrott does an unbelievable job with sharing the ball.
They were 30-something and one entering the game and it's easy to see why. " Both the Panthers (34-4) and Bulldogs (37-2) entered the game with losses to teams ranked in the Super 25. Bartlett's losses included No.