BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Kemontae Nixon had a huge fourth quarter as the Bradford High School boys basketball team turned a 12-point lead into a 69-40 win over visiting Fort White on Dec. 18.
This newly created basketball cheer squad and the presence of the band made for quite the atmosphere in the Tornadoes’ first home game, which was part of a slate of three games in which the junior varsity boys and varsity girls teams also earned wins over Fort White.
If you can count his play on the court, Nixon was just as loud as the band and cheerleaders, scoring 10 fourth-quarter points and finishing with a game-high 21.
The game went back and forth through most of the first quarter until Bradford scored six straight points. Nixon scored off an offensive rebound, followed by Steven Carter knocking down a three-point shot. Carter was fouled on the play and made the awarded free throw as the Tornadoes took a 15-9 lead into the second quarter.
Jy’Quez Cason scored three consecutive baskets as Bradford built a 24-11 lead.
The Tornadoes, who got eight first-half points from Cason and seven from Nixon, took a 26-16 lead into halftime.
Bradford scored 10 of the first 12 points of the third quarter, including three consecutive baskets by Cason, Maliki Cobarris and Nixon. After a Carter basket, Nixon scored off a K.J. Taylor assist to put the Tornadoes ahead 36-18.
Carter had a three-pointer and recorded assists on consecutive baskets by Breion Johnson as Bradford went into the fourth quarter leading 43-31.
Bradford’s lead grew, thanks to Nixon, who scored six of the Tornadoes’ first eight points in the fourth quarter. Cobarris and Taylor had assists on two of his baskets, while the third was a rebound putback that made the score 51-35.
Carter and Cobarris each scored five points in the fourth quarter to help Bradford win by 29 points. Carter finished with 14 points overall, while Cobarris had 11.
Cason added 12 points, while Taylor and Johnson had seven and four, respectively.
