Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School got two field goals from Khamyra Hankerson in the fourth quarter, which also included a 5-of-6 performance at the foul line by Jada Hankerson, as the Tornadoes defeated Class 7A Creekside 39-35 on Nov. 20 to open the regular season in girls basketball.
The Tornadoes, who play in Class 3A, got off to a fast start, building a 6-2 lead. Ar’Nayshia Griffin scored off a rebound putback and added another basket in transition after her own defensive rebound. Ajiyah Jackson added two free throws for the early four-point lead.
Stonay Shine later knocked down a three-pointer to put the Tornadoes ahead 9-4.
Bradford still clung to a lead entering the second quarter, but the team was hurting itself with poor shooting, making less than 15 percent of its field-goal attempts in the first half.
The Tornadoes missed their first seven shot attempts of the second quarter. Creekside cashed in, taking its first lead when Chloee Poppinga scored off an offensive rebound, putting the Knights up 10-9. Bradford quickly retook the lead, with Khamyra Hankerson scoring off a Griffin assist, but the Knights got consecutive baskets off steals by Maddie Rolander and Randi Reider to go up 14-11.
Jade Spivey had consecutive baskets to give Creekside an 18-11 lead, but the Tornadoes got a strong effort from Griffin in closing out the half with five straight points. After making two free throws, Griffin scored off a steal, drawing a foul in the process. She made the awarded free throw to send Bradford into halftime trailing 18-16.
Two baskets by Jackson helped the Tornadoes keep it a two-point game early in the third quarter. Bradford would tie the score twice on baskets by Jada Hankerson and Khamyra Hankerson, but Spivey’s layup off a Rolander steal sent the Knights into the fourth quarter leading 26-24.
Bradford missed its first three shot attempts to start the fourth before Jada Hankerson drew a foul on a drive to the basket. She made both free throws to tie it at 26-26. Hankerson later came up with a steal and drove to the basket again. She missed the shot, but Griffin was there to grab the rebound it and put it in. Griffin was fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to put the Tornadoes ahead 29-26.
The Knights later evened the score at 31-31 on a basket and free throw by Spivey. Another free throw by Brie McCoy put Creekside ahead by one, but it would be the Knights’ last lead.
A free throw by Destiny Crum gave Bradford the lead for good at 34-33. Creekside then turned the ball over with 1:45 to play. Khamyra Hankerson would sink a jumper with 1:12 to play to make it a 36-33 game.
Jada Hankerson added two free throws with 29.8 seconds remaining. Khamyra Hankerson then forced a turnover, which led to a free throw by Crum for the Tornadoes’ final point.
Griffin led Bradford with 12 points, while Khamyra Hankerson had eight. Jackson and Jada Hankerson each had seven points, while Shine and Crum finished with three and two, respectively.
Bradford returns to action with a home game against Class 4A Keystone Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.
