WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsBradley Central girls cruise to 5-AAA tourney title

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WRCB) -- The third installment of Bradley County's girls basketball rivalry played out similar to the first two on Monday night.

Top-seeded Bradley Central jumped out to a 20-point first quarter lead and never looked back in a 60-33 rout of arch rival Cleveland in the championship game of the District 5-AAA Tournament at Jim Smiddy Arena.

The Bearettes (29-1) have now won 24 straight games. They'll host Warren County at 7 p.m. ET on Friday in the Region 3 quarterfinals. Cleveland will host Cumberland County, also at 7.

Cleveland's first and only field goal of the opening quarter made the score 4-2 in the game's first three minutes. From there it was all Bradley.

The Bearettes turned 12 first-quarter turnovers from Cleveland into an 18-0 run that opened a 22-2 lead at the end of one quarter. Kayla Beavers scored all ten of her points in that opening eight minutes, while Brooke Copeland chipped in a total of 15 in the first half to push the lead to 37-10 at the half.

Copeland led all scorers with 21 points. Rebecca Reuter added ten points, while District Player of the Year Caroline Smith finished with eight points, four assists and six steals.

Sydnie Anderson and Jordan Capron scored eight apiece to lead the Lady Raiders (19-10).

The boys' 5-AAA title game will be played Tuesday night. Second-seeded Bradley Central will host top-seed Ooltewah at 7:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland will face McMinn County in the consolation game at 6 p.m. ET. All four teams will advance to this weekend's region tournament.

Other scores from Monday night:

Boys Basketball
Howard 64, Tyner 63 (District 6-AA Consolation)

Girls Basketball
McMinn Central 66, Sequoyah 39 (District 5-AA Championship)
Meigs County 61, Polk County 36 (District 6-AA Consolation)
Whitwell 46, Sale Creek 30 (District 6-A Championship)
Marion County 38, Van Buren County 31 (District 6-A Consolation)
Walker Valley 48, Rhea County 34 (District 5-AAA Consolation)
Tyner 66, Central 61 (District 6-AA Consolation)