Belgreen’s season ends in Elite Eight after 45-42 loss to Cold Springs

“Like a gut-punch.”

That’s how Belgreen High School varsity girls’ basketball head coach Chad Green described his feeling after his Lady Bulldogs team fell 45-42 to the No. 10-ranked Cold Springs High School Lady Eagles (22-10) in the Northwest Regional championship game Monday morning.

The hard-fought contest was there for either team to win late, but it was the Lady Eagles that were able to hit enough shots to win in the end.

After falling behind early, Belgreen (24-10), using its half- and full-court press to great effect, was able to create turnovers and fast-break opportunities to take the lead, 11-10, in the dying seconds of the first period. A three-pointer by junior Jemma Moore followed by a steal and fast-break lay-up by senior Makenna Fisher at the buzzer put BHS ahead for the first time.

The Lady Bulldogs’ advantage held to halftime and they went into the break leading 25-20.

Starting the second half with a quick run to go up by nine points, Belgreen looked like taking even firmer control of the contest; however, a Cold Springs timeout halted the Lady Bulldogs’ momentum: the Lady Eagles responded with a 9-0 run after the timeout to tie the game up at 31 with under three minutes to play in the third. Later in the period, Cold Springs went in front for the first time since the first quarter after an Ella Dickerson three-pointer made it 36-34 with a minute remaining. A steal and fast-break lay-up by Belgreen’s Fisher tied the game back up 36-36 right before the buzzer.

All even heading into the final eight minutes of play, the game came down to a few final shots. Belgreen had its chances to tie or go ahead late in the game but the shots would not fall.

Cold Springs’ Dickerson, who was named MVP of the regional tournament, hit two free throws late to give the Lady Eagles a three-point lead with 11 seconds remaining before Belgreen’s Moore’s three-point shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim and the game was over.

After the game, Green told the Franklin Free Press there wasn’t one or two specific things that led to the losing outcome; collectively, the Lady Bulldogs didn’t do quite enough to win the game against a talented and experienced Cold Springs squad.

“There were a couple times we didn’t rotate correctly and we were maybe a little bit late on some stuff, but I thought down the stretch we just didn’t get the shots we wanted,” he said. “Of course, you can go back to the first quarter and you have a turnover and in the second quarter you don’t get an offensive rebound and a put-back you can make. Everybody thinks it’s the end of the game (that matters) but it’s really a four quarter game.”

Fisher, who was selected to the All-Regional Tournament Team, led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 points in the loss. Sophomore Randi Terry, also selected for the all-tournament team, added nine points, as did junior Lilliana Willingham. Moore was Belgreen’s third all-tournament team pick; she finished the final with two steals, two assists, and a team-high seven rebounds.

The defeat ended the 2025-26 campaign for Belgreen, but it also ended the basketball careers of five decorated Lady Bulldog seniors—Fisher, Carson Hovater, Mackinley Hogan, Isabella Tate, and Alayna Tate.

An emotional but gracious Fisher, who participated in the postgame press session with Green and her teammates Terry and Moore, told the media she was proud of the season her team had her final year and attributed their success to the great relationships built within the team.

“I’m just proud of our team,” Fisher said. “I’ve been growing up with them pretty much my whole life, since seventh grade. I think this is one of the best teams that we’ve had. We don’t have drama or anything like that. We’re just a good team, and I think that really helps us on the court.

“It’s hard, but I’m so proud of our team,” she added. “I’m happy the seniors for Cold Springs get to go on….I hope they go far and make it. But I’m going to miss playing with my teammates.”

Green ended the postgame press conference by praising Fisher—Moore described her as the “glue” of the team—and his entire senior group for their accomplishments and contributions to the BHS girls’ basketball program during their careers.

“She’s had a great career,” Green said of Fisher. “This girl didn’t even start at junior high when she was in the seventh grade—she wasn’t even first off the bench. Now she’s sitting in the press conference room at Wallace (State) her senior year. Hard work pays off.

“(Belgreen’s five seniors) have been with us for a long time, contributed a lot to the program, and had a lot of success,” he added. “They’ve done a lot of good things for us, won a lot of ballgames, and we feel like we’ve been punched in the gut right now, but time heals things, right?

“I do want to thank the good Lord for all his blessings, letting me be able to coach this group, and letting them have the health and strength to play.”