The Bradwell Lady Tigers remained the number one team in the region defeating Johnson High School, 51-28. The boys couldn’t overcome a lopsided first quarter losing 69-42.
Lady Tigers 51,
Lady Atomsmashers 28
At the Bradwell Lady Tiger’s Friday night game, public address announcer Readie Kelly asked fans to remain standing after the opening tip until the home team scored its first bucket.
Supporters were still standing at the six-minute mark when Bradwell forced a steal and tied the game at 2.
Both teams traded buckets and turnovers throughout the first quarter. Bradwell’s tough press and fluid zone defense produced more offensive opportunities.
Lady Tiger Camille Jackson hit a three near the end of the first quarter to give Bradwell a 13-6 quarter.
Johnson’s strategy of trying to shutdown the Lady Tigers’ inside game backfired when they put Bradwell in the bonus with three minutes to go in the first half.Bradwell continued its defensive pressure and took a 23-18 lead into halftime.
"The first half, Johnson played us close. We were feeling them out so we could figure out what kind of adjustments to make at half time," Lady Tiger coach Faye Baker said.
Baker said Johnson is very athletic, but thought the Lady Tigers defense could wear them down.
Whatever halftime adjustment was made, it worked. Bradwell dominated Johnson in the third quarter, allowing only 2 points. Seandre Lee and Mariah Maternik combined for 14 points during the Lady Tigers’ scoring barrage.
"We showed a very balanced offensive attack tonight and I am proud of that," Baker said. "We take so much pride in our defense and it continues to set up our offense."
Bradwell controlled the second half, which allowed Baker to use her bench frequently.
"Tonight, we are able to play a lot of girls and one thing that you can’t coach is experience, which is going to help us down the road," the coach said.
The Lady Tigers’ aggressive defense didn’t allow Johnson to establish a rhythm in the second half and Bradwell walked away with a 51-28 victory.
Lady Tiger Seandre Lee led in scoring with 14 points. Mariah Maternik scored 10 points and Camille Jackson finished with 9.
Bradwell moves to 15-1 overall and 4-0 in the region.
"I told the girls that since we are No. 1 in the region and sitting on top of the mountain, everyone is going to be coming after us," Baker said.
The next team up for the Lady Tigers is Camden County.
"I haven’t seen Camden this year, but I know they have athletes and are well coached, and we will have to be ready to play," the coach said.
Bradwell 13 10 18 10-51
Johnson 8 10 2 8 -28
Johnson High School 69,
Bradwell Institute 42
Some nights, it seems, a team can shoot anything and the ball finds the bucket. This good fortune befell Johnson High School during the first quarter of Friday night’s game against Bradwell Tigers. Going into the second, Johnson was up 18-3.
Bradwell tried to make up for errant passes, missed shots and getting beat on the boards in the second quarter.
The Tigers scored first in the second, but Johnson countered with a three to stay in front, 21-6.
Bradwell’s Deandre Duren swished the Tigers first trey of the game. The Tigers stepped up the defensive pressure and created turnovers and scoring opportunities.
Duren drove the baseline scoring on a reverse layup, cutting Johnson’s lead to 14 points at the half.
"We didn’t come out with intensity that we have been playing with the past couple of games in the first quarter," Bradwell coach Pete Woodard said.
Woodard admitted Johnson has some good athletes, but said the Tigers just didn’t play to their ability level.
Johnson dominated Bradwell into the third quarter. The Tigers were able to score off some opportunities, but lackadaisical play plagued them at times.
"We just didn’t come with some intensity that we had in the second quarter when we continued to show that we had some fight left in us," Woodward said.
Johnson sealed the victory with a three-pointer at the buzzer in the fourth quarter.
Bradwell’s Deandre Duren had 15 points. Nayfis Johnson and Marcus Reddicks had 8 points each.
The loss to Johnson drops Bradwell’s record to 3-12 overall and 1-3 in the region.
Bradwell takes on region rival Camden County next.
"It’s another region game, so we have got to be ready. It’s kind of like hide and seek. Here they come regardless, so we need to be ready," Woodard said.
Bradwell 3 17 9 13-42
Johnson 18 16 14 21-69