BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School took advantage of nine turnovers and outscored Tavares 19-2 in the second quarter for an eventual 54-38 boys basketball win on the second day of action at a winter tournament hosted by BHS on Dec. 28.
The Tornadoes (4-3) took a six-point lead into the second quarter, thanks to a 13-3 run that began with a three-pointer by Mattox Burgin. Dae’Jon Shanks scored off an offensive rebound before Burgin sank another shot from beyond the arc for a 10-6 lead. Torin Brazell, after getting fouled after an offensive rebound, made two free throws, followed by a three-point basket by Damarion Hankerson.
Tavares’ Steven King ended the first quarter with a three-pointer, but Bradford led 15-9.
The hot long-range shooting continued for the Tornadoes, with Hankerson sinking a three to start the second quarter. Burgin later added his third three-point basket of the game to put Bradford up 21-11.
Burgin’s shot was the start of a 16-0 run to close out the half as the Bulldogs turned the ball over on nine straight possessions. Keith Taylor scored off an offensive rebound and then made a three-point shot for a 26-11 lead. Brazell had consecutive baskets as well — one off a rebound putback and one off a Shanks assist.
The half ended with Shanks and Taylor scoring off their own steals to send Bradford into the locker room leading 34-11.
Bradford’s defensive pressure continued to start the second half, which began with Hankerson scoring off his own steal. Chalil Cummings and Brazell each had a basket following a turnover to make it a 29-point game.
Turnovers continued to plague Tavares (3-8), which finished the game with more than 20. Ethan Caraway caused one when he drew a charge in the third quarter, while a Race Black steal at the end of the quarter led to a Caraway three-pointer.
Caraway’s basket gave Bradford eight three-pointers for the game.
Black, Taylor and Willie Pollard all had steals in the fourth quarter.
Brazell had 10 points to lead the Tornadoes, who also got nine from Burgin, eight from Hankerson, seven each from Shanks and Taylor, four from Cummings, three from Caraway and two each from Pollard, Mikey Oliver and Journie Sampson.
With the win, Bradford became the second boys team in the tournament to go 2-0, with Keystone Heights defeating Ridgeview 72-59. Those two teams will play each other to conclude the tournament at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29.
The rest of the final-day schedule has the Tocoi Creek and Williston girls teams playing at 2 p.m., followed by the Ridgeview and Tavares boys teams playing at 3:30 p.m. The Bradford girls team then takes on Keystone at 5 p.m.
Like the Bradford and Keystone boys, the Tocoi Creek girls team is looking to finish 3-0.
