BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Maliki Cobarris scored all but two of Bradford High School’s 17 fourth-quarter points as the Tornadoes defeated visiting Oakleaf 56-51 in a boys basketball game on Jan. 24.
The Tornadoes (15-2) trailed 14-13 before opening the second quarter with a 12-4 run. Dylan Ruise scored the first basket of the quarter, followed by two consecutive baskets by Cobarris. After Oakleaf’s Tre Pierce made two free throws, Kemontae Nixon scored off an offensive rebound to put Bradford up 21-16.
Oakleaf (11-10) got a free throw and a basket from Jerry Compere to cut the Tornadoes’ lead to two. K.J. Taylor scored on a drive to the basket for the Tornadoes and then had a steal, leading to a Breion Johnson basket and a 25-19 Bradford lead.
Bradford opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to go up 38-25. Taylor scored the quarter’s first basket. Cobarris got a bucket off a steal and was fouled, making the free throw to complete the three-point play. Taylor then scored off an offensive rebound, followed by Cobarris scoring off another steal to make it a 13-point game.
The Knights were able to make it a single-digit game until Johnson made a three-pointer, which helped the Tornadoes end the third quarter with a 45-35 lead.
Cobarris scored six points early in the fourth to make the score 51-39.
Oakleaf went on a 9-0 run to make it a four-point game before Johnson got a layup off a Jy’Quez Cason assist.
After the Knights’ Compere went 1 of 2 at the foul line, Oakleaf got a steal from Gunnar Castle. Castle, however, missed a three-point attempt, which was rebounded by Cobarris. Cobarris, who was fouled on the play, went to the foul line and made both free-throw attempts to put the Tornadoes ahead 55-48.
The Knights’ Pierce got to the foul line with a minute remaining, but he made just one of his free-throw attempts. Pierce, though, came up with a steal that led to a basket by Compere, making the score 55-51 with 40 seconds left.
Cobarris, who finished with 19 points, made a free throw for the game’s final point. Oakleaf missed two field-goal attempts after that, with Johnson and Steven Carter rebounding each miss.
Johnson finished with 17 points, while the Tornadoes also got six from Taylor, five from Nixon, three from Cason and two each from Ruise, Larry Ardley and Jordan Cason.
Bradford entered the game off a 43-24 win at Fort White on Jan. 20. Jy’Quez Cason had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Cobarris had nine points and six assists.
Taylor finished with seven points, while Bradford also got five from Bryston Williams, four from Nixon and two each from Johnson, Ruise and Jordan Cason.
Johnson also had seven rebounds.
Bradford travels to Gainesville to play Buchholz on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m., following a junior varsity game at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes host Trenton on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., following a JV game at 4 p.m. and a varsity girls game at 5:30 p.m.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the Tornadoes then travel to play Crescent City, with the JV team playing at 6 p.m. and the varsity team playing at 7:30 p.m.
