Hayden Moseley (5) and the Bearden Bulldogs faced Brandon Miller (24) and the Cane Ridge Ravens in a TSSAA Class 4A state tournament quarterfinal at Murphy Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Bearden won 69-67. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — The Murphy Center at MTSU was abuzz Wednesday afternoon over Cane Ridge’s McDonald’s All-American forward Brandon Miller.
The 6-foot-9 senior even graced the floor in McDonald’s custom-themed Nike basketball shoes, which were even tricked out with fries on the backs.
While Miller satiated the crowd’s appetite, going for a game-high 30 points and triggering a furious rally by the Ravens, the Bearden Bulldogs had just enough special sauce to hold on, winning 69-67 in the Class 4A state quarterfinal.
The Bulldogs (30-6) led by 13 points with 3 minutes, 52 seconds to play.
But Cane Ridge (25-7) went on an 18-6 run, and Miller’s 3 with 9.5 seconds remaining cut the score to 68-67. He had 13 points in that span.
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And after Bearden senior Elijah Bredwood missed the second of his two free-throw attempts with 8.4 left on the clock, Miller got one last look for the tie or win. He shot a contested 3 from the top of the key with Bearden’s Bredwood and Hayden Moseley defending, and his offering proved way off target.
So much so that officials debated it might have been tipped or deflected.
Miller said it had been.
“I know for a fact that it was deflected,” said Miller, who was 11-for-25 shooting and four of 12 on 3s.
“I don’t usually air ball shots way right. It is what it is. It’s basketball. Refs can’t be perfect every time. Everybody makes mistakes, so. You just gotta move on.”
Nevertheless, officials gave the ball to Bearden with 1 second remaining, and the Bulldogs successfully inbounded the ball to run out the clock.
Bredwood scored 24 points on 7-for-13 shooting while making eight of 10 foul shots.
Senior forward Darian Bailey had 23 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Bearden shot 54.3 percent from the floor against Cane Ridge, avenging the 50-47, first-round loss to Cane Ridge at state from a year ago. Bearden will now play either Lebanon (29-6) at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals. Lebanon features 6-8 wing Jarred Hall, who’s been offered by Tennessee, Florida and Ole Miss.
It’s Bearden’s first appearance in the semifinals since winning the Class AAA state tournament in 2019.
“I feel like we were supposed to get it last year,” said Bredwood of last year’s game against the Ravens. “And to get them again, in the draw, I felt like it happened on purpose.”
“I think ‘redemption’ is the word — in lots of ways,” added Bearden coach Jeremy Parrott. “I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Bredwood keyed Bearden’s hot start on Wednesday, scoring seven first-quarter points. Bailey buried a 3 at the buzzer, and Bearden led 18-8 after one.
Miller caught fire in the second. He popped in a couple 3s and dazzled the crowd with a coast-to-coast dunk. He had 10 points in a 17-2 run that gave Cane Ridge the lead, 25-20.
The Bulldogs took a 29-28 lead into the half, though, thanks to a Wyatt Shomaker jumper with 29 seconds left in the second quarter.
Moseley got to show off his hops, flushing down to dunks in the third. The second put Bearden ahead 46-41 at the 1:38 mark.
Bredwood scored on a putback at the buzzer to move Bearden ahead 48-43 with one quarter to play.
And the start of the fourth was all Bearden. Walker Kyle and Bredwood buried 3s. Bailey hit four big free throws.
Next thing you know, Bearden is ahead 62-49 with 3:52 remaining.
Miller had other ideas though, scoring five quick points to trim the deficit to eight points. He scored on a mid-range jumper and got fouled — making the subsequent foul shot — to cut Bearden’s lead to 65-64 with just 1:19 to play.
He was whistled for a charge, though, with 33 seconds to play. And Bailey made Cane Ridge pay, taking the ball the length of the floor and scoring for a 68-64 lead.
Miller answered right back, however. And his 3 from the left wing with 9.5 seconds left brought the Ravens to within one point.
Bredwood was fouled on the inbounds. The plan was, after he made both free throws, for Bearden to foul Miller before he could even get a shot off.
Bredwood’s second foul shot rimmed out, though, giving Cane Ridge and Miller one last gasp.
“They have a good team. We built that cushion, but we didn’t expect it to hold,” said Parrott. “We knew they were going to make a run. They got a guy like Brandon Miller. That’s instant offense, as you saw there late.
“But, credit to our guys. When we started looking at the scouting report, having played them last year, we talked as a staff. We said, ‘Hey, do we shorten this game? Do we try to do something different?’ After thinking about it for a couple days, we said, ‘Nah, we’re just going to play like we play and guard him the best we can.'”