When the Bearden Bulldogs walked into the gym at Tennessee High School for The Classic, expectations were already high.
Senior Justin Nordin, supported by his connection with Bearden newcomer Carson Asbaty, lived up to those expectations.
Nordin’s performance earned him all-tournament honors, a distinction he shared with Asbaty.
“Both of them are great leaders that are depended on,” Coach Jeremy Parrott said. “They have taken the lead as the season progressed, and it showed at the tournament.”
With early season tournaments now behind them, the Bulldogs (21-1, 5-0 District 4-AAAA) can now turn their full attention to district play. They host rival Farragut (14-6, 4-1) on Friday night at 7:30, needing to win to hold on to their spot at the top of the district standings.
While the crowd may have been impressed by Nordin’s play, his coach saw it as a reflection of the program’s culture. When asked if the high-level play was a surprise, Coach Parrott pointed to the consistency he expects from his roster.
“Heading into the tournament, I expected everyone wearing a Bearden jersey to have a good outing,” Coach Parrott said. “It’s become our standard.”
That standard is easier to maintain when players trust one another. Nordin – who has been a key contributor to the program since his freshman year – said he can play even more freely this season because of the arrival of Asbaty.
The newly-forged backcourt partnership allows Nordin to focus on his specific role, knowing he has a reliable partner to handle the pressure.
“Carson takes the workload off my shoulders,” Nordin said. “I feel like when I’m not being a leader, he steps up no matter what.”
The trust stems from a history that predates their time as high school teammates.
“The chemistry was always there,” Coach Parrott said. “They know each other off the court.”
For Nordin, their relationship has evolved from rivals to teammates. Growing up in the local basketball scene, the two often played against each other for their respective AAU teams.
“We’ve known each other since we were young,” Nordin said. “We were always playing against each other.
“It’s nice to have a guy like him play with us and not against us for a change.”
Asbaty, a transfer from Catholic, said that while the move required some adjustments, his history with Nordin made the transition seamless.
“The switch in playbooks was definitely something to get used to, but already knowing Justin and sharing the backcourt with him for sure made it easier to adjust,” Asbaty said.
Asbaty added that Nordin’s high basketball IQ elevates his own play.
“It makes it easier to have a guy like Justin because he’s always making the right read,” Asbaty said. “We play good off each other.”
That leadership becomes especially important when the team faces adversity. Nordin noted that Asbaty helps calm the team down during difficult stretches, while Asbaty views Nordin as the steady hand the team needs.
“Justin is a great leader for the team,” Asbaty said. “When you have a team like ours with all the potential in the world, you need a strong leader and Justin does a great job being that for us.”
The Bulldogs’ performance at The Classic at Tennessee Highschool served as a benchmark for the rest of the season. The team defeated two opponents ranked nationally by different media organizations (Calvary Baptist Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas) with only one loss coming on a buzzer beater.
For Asbaty, the tournament proved that Bearden is ready for the postseason.
“It showed us that we are a serious contender for state,” Asbaty said. “The sky’s the limit.”
Despite the awards and the success at the tournament, Coach Parrott insists the team can’t just rely on what they did in the regular season. With Nordin and Asbaty playing their best, the focus now shifts to the main goal.
“No matter how good of a regular season you have, the postseason is always the most important thing for a team,” Coach Parrott said.