BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School lost a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but hung on to defeat host Hawthorne 70-63 in a boys basketball game on Jan. 19.
It was the final game of Hawthorne’s MLK Shootout, which consisted of four total games. One of those was a 67-54 by the BHS junior varsity team over Hawthorne.
In the varsity game between the Tornadoes and the Hornets, Hawthorne (5-5) led by one point before Bradford (13-2) went on a 21-7 run to close out the first half. Maliki Cobarris got the run started when he scored off a Jy’Quez Cason steal. Cobarris then drove the length of the court after a Kemontae Nixon defensive rebound, scoring to put Bradford ahead 17-14. Another Cason steal eventually led to a basket by Nixon off a rebound, while Breion Johnson scored off an offensive rebound as well to make it a 21-14 game.
Jordan Cason made a basket in between two made free throws by Hawthorne. The Tornadoes then got consecutive baskets from Jy’Quez Cason and Cobarris to make it an 11-point game at 27-16.
The Hornets’ Nathan Jennings drove to the basket for a score, drawing a foul in the process. He made the awarded free-throw attempt. Jennings then had a steal that led to a basket by Asher Lewis as Hawthorne cut the Bradford lead to six.
Bradford responded by scoring the final seven points of the half. Steven Carter made a three-point basket, while Cobarris and Jy’Quez each had a bucket for two points, sending the Tornadoes into halftime leading 34-21.
The Tornadoes began the third quarter with an 11-4 run. After Hawthorne’s Dominck Harvey made a free throw, Bradford’s K.J. Taylor sank a three-point, getting fouled in the process. He made the awarded free throw. Dylan Ruise added a free throw for Bradford before Jordan Cason got a basket to make the score 41-22. Jennings made a three-point shot for the Hornets, but Taylor followed by getting fouled on a drive to the basket. He made both free throws. Johnson then scored off an offensive rebound to give Bradford a 45-25 lead.
Hawthorne steadily chipped away at the Bradford lead. A 9-2 run that began with less than four minutes remaining pulled the Hornets to within six points. Shaun Bowie knocked down a three-point shot for Hawthorne and then came away with a steal that led to Jennings getting fouled. Jennings made both free throws to make the score 64-56.
Bradford got a basket from Taylor, followed by four free throws by Hawthorne that made it a 66-60 game with approximately two minutes left.
The Hornets could only add two free throws to their point total the rest of the way, going 0 for 3 from the field and turning the ball over once.
Nixon had a strong second half for Bradford, scoring 11 points and finishing with 18. Cobarris and Taylor had 14 and 12 points, respectively, while the Tornadoes also got nine from Jy’Quez Cason, six each from Johnson and Jordan Cason, three from Carter and two from Ruise.
Bradford travels to play Fort White on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m., following a JV game at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes host Newberry on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m., following a JV boys game at 4:30 p.m. and a varsity girls game at 6 p.m. Another home triple-header is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, when the Tornadoes host Oakleaf. Tip-off times are 4:30 p.m. for the JV boys, 6 p.m. for the varsity girls and 7:30 p.m. for the varsity boys.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Bradford travels to Gainesville to play Buchholz, with the JV team playing at 6 p.m. and the varsity team playing at 7:30 p.m.
