First Half React: Cleveland-Bradley Central

<p>With one glaring weight heaped upon their collective backs, the saddled Cleveland High Raiders re-entered their locker room up 30-26.</p> <p>Slow though not at all sloppy describes the first quarter between rivals Cleveland High and Bradley Central High School.  Through a roller coaster journey the two teams scrapped, clawed, and bullied each other.  Bradley Central exited the first quarter ahead, 15-13.</p> <h3>Open the Gates, Shut the Gates</h3> <p>In a packed house, the flood of energy welcomed Cleveland onto the floor.  Both teams played hyped.  Still, they did not make rushed or silly choices.  The early basketball was crisp and predictable with key players making the best of their opportunities. </p> <p>It took 90 game seconds for the two teams to score their first field goals.<br /> Nerves?</p> <p>Officials allowed the two strong teams to show off that strength. Bodies clashed with no whistles.</p> <p>Bradley Central decided to chop the court in half and disallow the slasher to make the easy skip pass. Midway throught he first quarter</p> <h3>Two on Wood, Two on Schramm</h3> <p>The two key seniors JaCobi Wood and [player_tooltip player_id="845993" first="Morrell" last="Schramm"] each picked up two fouls in the game’s first six minutes.  Schramm sat.</p> <p>At 2:16, Wood was called for a defensive whack.  It marked his second foul of the young game.  Cleveland Head Coach Reggie Tucker elected to keep JaCobi on the floor. Generally speaking, leaving a player while saddled with foul trouble is a sign of deep respect.  ’He is smart enough to play without fouling’ is perhaps the line of thinking Coach Tucker used.  </p> <p>Bizarrely, Wood was whistled for a third foul and it was approximately 60’ away from the previous point of infringement. </p> <p>Tough call!  The official whistled Mr. Basketball candidate <strong>JaCobi Wood</strong> for a third foul, a questionable call to be sure, but a believable call.  Wood put his head down and barreled forward near the elbow.  His standard move resulted in a fallen defender.  </p> <p>Then, the atmosphere completely changed. </p> <p>JaCobi Wood returned with 5:17 to play in the first half <em>with three fouls</em> attached to his famous moniker.</p> <p>Without dribbling towards the rim he hit an immediate three-pointer.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="537247" first="Grant" last="Hurst"]</strong> ripped a dribble loose and earned his way to the free throw line on the offensive end.  Wood’s mere presence appeared to inspire a change in the game.  Wood hit another three off the dribble on the ensuing possession.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="845993" first="Morrell" last="Schramm"]</strong> followed with a triple from the corner pocket. CHS crafted a 11-0 run immediately upon Wood’s insertion.</p> <p>Senior guards make a difference and this different senior guard made an enormous difference.  The game moved from 13-15 to 24-15.</p> <h3>Curry above the Men</h3> <p>Curry played big, bigger than his foes.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775547" first="Tray" last="Curry"]</strong> is a mammoth young man with incredible bounce and strength.  Cleveland is not unique in their ability to guard him in deep.  </p> <p>Much of the success, both initial and subsequent upon a miss, Curry experienced came from attacking the glass.  Curry was a prolific offensive rebounder and also a fright in the open floor. </p> <h3>Not Another</h3> <p>JaCobi was whistled for shocking fourth foul, another charge, after Bradley’s frazzled timeout. </p> <p>The first half was completely unpredictable and wildly entertaining.  </p> <p>What is to come for the second half?</p> <p><em>Follow @PrepHoopsTN for game updates!</em></p>