Telegraph Staff Writer
Paxon outscored the Bradford High School boys team 29-6 in the third quarter, winning 65-36 and claiming the championship trophy on the final day of action at the Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke Christmas Basketball Tournament on Dec. 18 at BHS.
Paxon (8-1) was the only team to go undefeated, winning each day of the three-day tournament. Dameon Jones Jr., who scored 25 points against Bradford, was named tournament MVP.
Bradford (2-2) went 1-2 in the tournament.
The final day also saw Jacksonville’s Hope Christian beat Suwannee 66-47, Clay beat Starke’s Northside Christian 67-22 and, in a junior varsity matchup, Jacksonville’s Riverside defeating Bradford 60-28.
Paxon scored the first seven points in the game against Bradford, with six points coming on three-pointers by Jones. A three-pointer by Camden Tyner put the Eagles up 11-2.
The Tornadoes scored six straight points. Chalil Cummings scored off a steal by Amari Jones, while Jontez Williams scored off another Paxon turnover. Robbie Simmons-Godwin added a bucket to make the score 11-8, but Paxon went on its own 6-0 run to close out the quarter, which ended with the Eagles’ Jones and Tyner each scoring eight points.
Paxon increased its nine-point lead to 13, closing out the second quarter on a 7-2 run. Tyner knocked down a three-pointer, while Jones scored twice following turnovers.
The Eagles opened the third quarter with a 13-1 run. Eight of those points came off turnovers.
Bradford got four points each from Cummings, Jones and Williams in the fourth quarter.
The Tornadoes closed the game with an 11-2 run. Williams missed both free-throw attempts on a trip to the foul line, but Cummings rebounded the second miss and scored. Simmons-Godwin was fouled on a drive to the basket. He made 1-of-2 free throws, but rebounded his second miss and put it back for two to make the score 63-31. Williams and Cummings had consecutive baskets, with Cummings getting fouled on his. Cummings missed his free-throw attempt, but Triavez Hankerson grabbed the rebound for the Tornadoes and scored.
Amari Jones led Bradford with eight points, while Cummings and Williams scored seven and six, respectively. Simmons-Godwin had five points, with Hunter Crawford and Jametrius Pringle adding four and three points, respectively. Keith Ardley had one point.
The Eagles had two players besides Dameon Jones finish in double figures, with Tyner and Kyle Jones scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Bradford will play at Fleming Island’s fifth annual Battle on the Island tournament, participating in the Green Championship Division. The Tornadoes play Baker County on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 6:45 p.m. If Bradford wins, it will play Buchholz or Ribault at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. If the Tornadoes lose to Baker, they’ll play at 12:45 p.m. on Dec. 22.
Tip-off times on the third and final day of the tournament are 9:45 a.m. for the seventh-place game, 12:45 p.m. for the consolation championship, 3:45 p.m. for the third-place game and 6:45 p.m. for the championship game.
