BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
A 15-2 run that began in the latter stages of the third quarter was enough to help the Bradford High School boys basketball team overcome a 20-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound performance by Keystone Heights’ Garrison Teague in a 68-51 win on Jan. 19 in Starke.
Both teams entered the game off two-game losing streaks, but eight points by Race Black during the late run helped the Tornadoes (6-9) pull away.
The Indians (7-10) built an early 9-2 lead, with Teague scoring his team’s first six points — all off offensive rebounds.
Bradford’s Damarion Hankerson made a three-pointer and was also fouled on a three-point attempt, making two free throws to help the Tornadoes make it 12-7 in favor of Keystone. The Indians closed out the first quarter by scoring five of its final seven points, with Teague scoring off another offensive rebound and Darrion Grady scoring off a steal and making the free-throw attempt he earned for getting fouled on the play.
Hankerson scored the first eight points of the second quarter. He made his second three-point shot of the night and was then fouled on a three-point attempt following a Keystone turnover, which also saw the Indians’ bench get assessed with a technical foul. Hankerson made all three free-throw attempts that were awarded for getting fouled and then made both technical free throws, tying the score at 17-17.
The Tornadoes later held a 24-19 lead, with Mattox Burgin scoring off a baseline drive and Breion Johnson scoring and making a free throw.
A 6-for-6 stretch from the foul line, with Teague going 4 for 4 and Zane Leger going 2 for 2, helped the Indians stay close.
A rebound putback by Burgin gave Bradford a 29-25 lead, but Leger would answer for Keystone to make the halftime score 29-27.
Bradford got back-to-back baskets from Mikey Oliver and Burgin to open the third quarter, but the Indians then scored five straight points. Leger sank a jump shot before Grady went to the foul line, making 1 of 2 attempts. Teague rebounded the missed free throw and put it back in for a basket, leaving Keystone trailing 33-32.
Teague finished with 22 rebounds.
Black answered Teague’s score with a three-pointer, but Keystone then got a free throw from Bryant Kubisiak and a turn-around jumper by Teague.
The Tornadoes then went on a 10-2 run to close out the third quarter. It began with a Black basket. Black then had a steal, which led to a basket by Keith Taylor. After Keystone got one free throw each from Andru Siemer and Teague, Bradford knocked down back-to-back three-pointers by Hankerson and Black, making the score 46-37.
Bradford’s run extended into the fourth quarter, which opened with another three-pointer by Black. Burgin was then fouled on a drive to the basket, making both free throws for a 51-37 lead.
Burgin and Oliver scored seven and eight points, respectively, in the fourth quarter to help the Tornadoes maintain a double-digit lead.
Black and Hankerson led the Tornadoes in scoring with 16 points each. Burgin and Oliver finished with 13 and 10, respectively.
Bradford also got eight points from Taylor and five points from Johnson.
Teague led all scorers with 24 points. The Indians also got 10 from Leger, nine from Grady, six from Bryce Hollingsworth and one each from Kubisiak and Siemer.
The Tornadoes host Trenton on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to play Middleburg on Monday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Bradford returns home to play Oakleaf on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. That’s the first of three straight games at home, with the Tornadoes playing Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. and Orange Park on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m.
Keystone hosts Baldwin on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. The Indians then play three straight on the road: at Baker County on Friday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m., at Palatka on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. and at Oak Hall on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m.
