Highlights of Riverdale's 77-59 win over Bearden in the Class AAA girls state semifinals Friday at MTSU. Cecil Joyce
MURFREESBORO — Though their eyes were still red from tears, seniors Grace van Rij and Trinity Lee broke into easy smiles as they recounted some of the many songs sung by the Bearden girls basketball team.
It may be a team of backup singers, but that didn't stop the Lady Bulldogs from belting it out on a postseason run that ended with a 77-59 loss to nationally ranked Riverdale in the Class AAA state semifinals on Friday.
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Van Rij said they think they're the singing basketball team from Disney's "High School Musical."
At halftime, the Lady Bulldogs sing "Now or Never" from "HSM 3: Senior Year," which starts out "16, 16, 16" about the time left in the game. Their bus rides are epic singalongs featuring more Disney, Beyonce, Justin Bieber and more.
Coach Justin Underwood figures it was that silliness that helped Bearden get to the state tournament, and the memories of the fun they had will last longer than the sting of losing.
"Sometimes, coaches, players, we maybe take ourselves too seriously," Underwood said. "For them to be able to laugh at themselves, it goes a long way. It makes it lighthearted. Don't get me wrong; they come ready to play, but it does kind of take the nerves away."
Back in November, before the season started, the team took a trip to Gatlinburg and stayed in a cabin for some team bonding. Van Rij, Lee and Jakhyia Davis laughed recounting the lip sync battle the team had during that trip.
"It was so funny," said Lee, who led the Bulldogs with 43 points at state. "People were dancing. Everyone got loose and came out of their shells. It was just so fun."
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Singing became a constant throughout the season. Most teams sing on the bus, but Bearden took it a step further — singing in the locker room at halftime was pretty unique.
Davis quickly threw Jah'niya Bussell under the bus as the worst singer, not so much for her voice as her memory. Van Rij said the team has sung "Now or Never" the whole season and Bussell still can't remember it.
They had to stop and think about who was the best singer before deciding on van Rij and Shekinah McLaughlin. That's when Underwood said his team has a lot of backup singers.
Underwood doesn't participate, but he's embraced the singalongs and the silliness. His family's trips to Disney spurred an enduring joke about "The Little Mermaid" being his favorite movie (it isn't) and his team serenaded him with "Part of Your World."
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The Bearden girls basketball team had a special surprise for coach Justin Underwood after winning the region semifinal on his birthday. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
That silliness, led by the two seniors, created the closeness and family feel that most teams strive for. That in turn is what had Bearden fighting through the whole game against Riverdale, though the Lady Warriors dictated throughout. That is why the starters were on the bench chanting "de-fense" for the backups, as the final minute wound down on their season.
"It's special," Underwood said. "It's something, we're going to have to step away to truly appreciate what we did. We just want our kids to understand they just have to believe. We're going to look back and think there were a lot of special memories made."
Bearden beat Arlington in a state quarterfinal. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Knoxville Webb won the Division II-A girls basketball championship, beating Frankling Road Academy 55-42. Tom Kreager
Webb beat Northpoint Christian in a Division II-A state semifinal. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Gatlinburg-Pittman beat Alcoa with a last-second shot in the Region 2-AA final. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Oak Ridge held off Maryville's comeback attempt in the Region 2-AAA semifinals. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Bearden came back from a slow start to beat Campbell County in a Region 2-AAA semifinal. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Webb hosted CPA in the Division II-A state quarterfinals. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Highlights from USJ's 52-41 win over CAK in the Division II-A state quarterfinals on Feb. 23, 2018. LUIS TORRES / USA Today Network - Tennessee
Gatlinburg-Pittman defeats Carter, 69-62 for the District 2-AA title on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
Alcoa beat Fulton for the District 4-AA championship Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
PrepXtra: Oak Ridge vs CCHS 3AAA finals game
Maryville upset Hardin Valley in the District 4-AAA semifinals. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Bearden beat William Blount in the District 4-AAA semifinals. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Fulton beat Kingston in the 4AA smifinals Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Alcoa beat Scott in the 4AA semifinals Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Heritage played Maryville in a district 4-AAA matchup at Lenoir City high school on Thursday night. The score at halftime was Heritage 26, Maryville 22 and the final score was Maryville 48, Heritage 45. Holly Hauck, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Lenoir City hosts Farragut in the Girls District 4-AAA Tournament on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
Scenes from the Bearden at Maryville boys and girls basketball games Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2018.
Highlights from the Northview vs. Carter girls basketball game at Carter, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.
Video from the Farragut vs West girls game on February 2, 2018.
The Catholic girl's basketball team hosted Maryville on Monday night. The score at halftime was Catholic 23, Maryville 21 and the final score was Maryville 59, Catholic 32. Holly Hauck, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Clinton beat Central in girls basketball at home. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Morristown West beat Sevier Co. 74-47 Diana Nearhos/News Sentinel
Webb played Grace Christian at home on Friday night. The final score was 51-33. Holly Hauck / USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
The Catholic girls basketball team played Karns at home on Thursday afternoon. The final score was 49-14. Holly Hauck, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Maryville girls basketball gave Hardin Valley its first District 4-AAA loss Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Bearden girls basketball cruises to a District 3-AAA win over West. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Fulton pulls off last second victory against Austin-East. Diana C. Nearhos, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Clips from the Oak Ridge vs Central game on Friday, January 5, 2018. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL
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