BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School’s boys basketball team was held to one point in the third quarter as Suwannee pulled away in handing the Tornadoes a 60-40 loss on the first day of the annual Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke Christmas Tournament at BHS on Dec. 19.
The Tornadoes (0-5) trailed by only three entering the second quarter, getting four points each from Damarion Hankerson and Keith Taylor. Suwanee (2-7) began increasing its lead, with a couple of three-pointers and two baskets off turnovers helping the Bulldogs go up 27-14.
Bradford put together a 16-1 run to end the quarter. Hankerson made two free throws, while Jeremiah Hill scored off an offensive rebound to make it 27-18. Taylor, after a Suwannee turnover, cut to the basket, received a pass from Mattox Burgin and scored. Hankerson came up with a steal and was fouled on a shot attempt. He made one of his free-throw attempts to make the score 27-21.
Hill scored on a layup off a Burgin assist, while Hankerson scored following his own steal with less than 50 seconds remaining in the first half to pull the Tornadoes to within two. Another Suwannee turnover led to a three-point basket by Burgin, which put Bradford ahead 28-27 with 15 seconds left.
The Bulldogs made a free throw with 6.7 seconds on the clock, but Hill was able to make a basket before the buzzer to send Bradford into the locker room leading 30-28.
Hankerson was fouled on a drive to the basket early in the third quarter and sank one of his two free-throw attempts. His successful foul shot proved to be the only point for the Tornadoes in the third quarter as they went 0 for 8 from the field and committed eight turnovers. Suwannee built a 45-31 lead.
Hill made two free throws with 5:14 remaining before the Tornadoes finally made a field goal, courtesy of a three-pointer by Taylor.
Bradford got 14 points from Hill and 10 points from Hankerson. Taylor added nine points, while Burgin and Journie Sampson had five and two, respectively.
It has been a tough start to the season for the 2021-22 Class 1A state champions, who now play in Class 3A. Six underclassmen (not counting Sampson, who was moved up from the junior varsity team during the postseason) played on last year’s team, but all decided not to play this season, including leading scorer Shayne Davis.
The Tornadoes, who have only seven on their roster, opened the season with a 63-20 loss at Eastside on Dec. 8. They had 65-48 and 58-46 losses to Dunnellon and West Nassau before playing their first home game on Dec. 17, which was a 52-41 loss to Baker County.
Bradford plays North Marion on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. on day two of the Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke. The tournament’s other day-two matchups are Tavares vs. Keystone Heights at 4:30 p.m. and Paxon vs. Suwannee at 6 p.m.
