Bearden holds off West Valley, 42-41

By Steve Williams

The Bearden Middle School boys team and its fans won a nail biter in the Knox County AAA championship game Thursday night.

With the Bulldogs leading by one point, West Valley had the ball and a chance to win. The Wolves’ Bode Maupin, who already had hit three 3-pointers in the game, got a good look at the basket from the left wing, but his shot missed and Bearden got away with a 42-41 win.

Both teams will advance in post-season play.

Paxton Tedford (12 points) and Brian Tate (11 points) both made the All-Tournament team and led Bearden’s balanced attack. Jamerson Moore and Isaac Kannah contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

West Valley got 15 points from Maupin and 13 points from Caleb Murray, who also fired in three 3-pointers.

Longtime Bearden Coach Ben Zorio said: “Switching to a 1-2-2 defense — we were man-to-man prior to that — during the fourth quarter when West Valley had the lead and our players being very active and aggressive in the 1-2-2 was key in us retaking the lead.”

Zorio took a quick timeout with 4:50 on the fourth period clock when Maupin connected on a 3-pointer to give West Valley a 37-32 lead.

Bearden got the lead back (40-39) on a steal and layup by Tedford.

A layup by Tate with 31.7 seconds to go, following an interception by Dontae Campbell, gave the Bulldogs their 42-41 lead.

“We got down in the fourth quarter and kept showing heart and fight,” said Coach Zorio. “It wasn’t our best game, but as they say in tournament play, you survive and advance. And in a championship game (like this) you survive and win.”

Bearden (20-1) will advance to Sectional play at Clinton Middle School on Feb. 5 and play a team to be determined.