BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
For the first time in 10 years, a Bradford Middle School girls basketball team put together a perfect season, going 8-0 and doing it in dominant fashion, for the most part.
Prior to the team’s season-ending banquet on Feb. 19 in the BMS cafeteria, Head Coach Rick Barr said most victories were by margins of 25-30 points, adding, “We weren’t trying to run the score up.”
In fact, the goal was for every player to get on the scoreboard, but more importantly, the players rooted for each other to get their minutes and get their points. Barr said the team cohesion was impressive.
“These girls stuck together,” he said.
When asked what stood out most, the team’s offense or defense, Barr didn’t hesitate in saying, “Our offense.” Not two seconds went by, though, before he said, “I don’t know.” He then asked player Tamani Cray what she thought. For her, it was the defense.
“Defense? That defense was sharp,” Barr said. “OK. It was the defense.”
Barr said a lot of credit for the team’s success goes to the Concerned Citizens of Bradford County basketball league at the RJE gym, which Barr and BMS assistant coaches Jimmy Hankerson and Justin Mealing coach in.
“The majority of (the players) came through RJE first, so they’ve been playing since they were like this,” Barr said, holding his hand at knee level. “That gives them a serious foundation. It really does. By the time they come over here — whoever’s coaching, all they’ve got to do, really, is just put it together.”
Barr and his coaching staff, which also consisted of Arthur Burch, made sure the players “put it together” in the classroom. If the BMS boys took to the court first on practice days, the girls players would sit in the cafeteria studying and doing homework.
One of Bradford’s opponents was affected by grades. The Tornadoes’ final win was the result of the forfeit as the team they were supposed to play had nine of its 13 players ineligible to play due to their grade-point averages.
Barr said, “I tell them all the time, ‘You’re a student-athlete. You’re a student first.’”
Besides enjoying more than enough food, the players who attended the banquet each received a trophy with her name on it. Barr and his staff also showed off a big trophy commemorating the undefeated season that will be put in the school’s display case.
Barr told the family members in attendance that this year’s eighth-graders, along with last year’s eighth-graders, are going to do some big things at Bradford High School.
“We’re going to be losing them, but (BHS) is going to be gaining a state championship, if they keep those girls together,” Barr said.
The coach also said he believes BMS can experience ongoing success in girls basketball if members of the community lend their support. Barr said several parents and “Papaws and Memaws” helped work with the girls this season.
“I think we can get a train going,” Barr said, referring to a successful program, “but it’s going to take the whole community.”
Members of this year team were Takayla Barnes, Jada Childs, Destinee Covington, Tamani Cray, Talaysia Cummings, Izarriya Desue, Ar’nayshia Griffin, Zharianna Guion, Kah’myra Hankerson, Jashiyah Hendrieth, Alexis Kicklighter, Jordyn Littles, Sarah Rentz, Gemma Rodriguez and managers Jessariah Hankerson, Ja’niyah Nichols and Tra’nique Thompson.
