BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Maliki Cobarris scored 15 points as part of a second quarter in which the Bradford High School boys basketball team outscored visiting Crescent City 22-6 en route to a 61-30 win on Dec. 13.
It was the second straight 30-plus-point win for the Tornadoes, who won their fourth straight game.
The game was competitive in the first quarter, with the visitors scoring the first five points. Three-pointers by Jy’Quez Cason and K.J. Taylor helped Bradford take a 9-7 lead.
A rebound putback and free throw by Breion Johnson put the Tornadoes up 12-8, while a basket by Jordan Cason made it a 14-8 game.
Crescent City trailed by three and scored the first four points of the second quarter, which gave the Raiders a 17-16 lead. Bradford then scored eight straight, with Cobarris sinking two three-pointers and Jordan Cason scoring off a Taylor assist.
The Raiders then scored their last basket of the half, with Bradford answering with a 14-0 run. Kyren Green scored off a Cobarris assist before Cobarris was fouled driving to the baset following a Jordan Cason steal. Cobarris made both free throws for a 28-19 lead.
A turnover led to Cobarris’ third three-pointer of the quarter, while Jy’Quez Cason made his own shot from beyond the arc, giving the Tornadoes a 15-point lead.
Jordan Cason had a steal that led to a basket by Cobarris. Cobarris then ended the scoring for the half when he made two free throws, sending the Tornadoes into the locker room leading 38-19.
Bradford forced the Raiders into nine turnovers in the second quarter.
The Tornadoes kept their foot on the gas to open the second half, scoring the first 17 points of the third quarter. Taylor had consecutive baskets before Cobarris scored off a turnover. Cobarris, Johnson, Taylor and Jy’Quez Cason each had a basket before Taylor knocked down a three-pointer to make it 55-19 game.
Cobarris and Taylor finished with 19 and 12 points, respectively, while Bradford also got nine points from Jordan Cason, eight from Jy’Quez Cason, seven from Johnson, four from Green and two from Larry Ardley.
Jordan Cason led the team in rebounds with eight and also had a team-best five steals.
Green and Johnson each had five rebounds.
Cobarris recorded four assists, while Steven Carter and Jordan Cason each had three.
The Tornadoes entered the game off a 69-30 win over District 3-3A opponent Interlachen on Dec. 12 in Starke.
Bradford scored the game’s first seven points, with Cobarris hitting a three-pointer and Taylor and Jordan Cason scoring on drives to the basket.
The Tornadoes outscored Interlachen 20-2 in the first quarter. After the Rams got their only basket, Bradford scored 13 straight points. The run began with consecutive baskets by Cobarris. Jordan Cason scored off an offensive rebound before Cobarris added another basket. Jordan Cason had a layup off a Cobarris assist before Jonathan Andrews scored off a Carter assist. Andrews was fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to give the Tornadoes an 18-point lead.
Cobarris had two baskets early in the second quarter, giving him 14 for the half.
Taylor scored 10 straight points as part of a 12-2 run to close out the first half and send the Tornadoes into the locker room leading 42-10.
Four players finished with double-digit points: Cobarris with 20, Taylor with 17, Jordan Cason with 12 and Carter with 11.
Bradford also got four points from Green, three points from Andrews and two points from Jy’Quez Cason.
Jordan Cason and Cobarris grabbed seven and six rebounds, respectively, while Jy’Quez Cason had five.
Jordan Cason and Jy’Quez Cason each had six assists, with Jy’Quez Cason also coming away with four steals.
Carter added three assists.
