BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School had runs of 11-1 and 15-1 in the first half, building a 21-point halftime lead and defeating Class 5A Ridgeview 69-45 on Dec. 6 in Starke.
The Class 3A Tornadoes (1-1) trailed 7-6 after the Panthers made a three-pointer, but then put together an 11-1 run that started with a free throw by K.J. Taylor. Maliki Cobarris scored on a drive to the basket, while Taylor sank a three-pointer to put Bradford up 12-7. After a free throw by Ridgeview, the Tornadoes got a basket from Breion Johnson.
Steven Carter capped the run when he made a three-pointer following a steal by Jy’Quez Cason, putting Bradford ahead 17-8.
Cason finished with a game-high eight steals.
The second quarter was almost all Bradford, which outscored the Panthers 17-3. The Tornadoes scored 15 of the half’s final 16 points, getting five points each from Carter and Cobarris during that span.
Carter got the second-quarter run started when he scored off his own steal. Cason then drew a charge on Ridgeview’s Gavin Stechschulte on the defensive end, followed by Carter making his second three-pointer of the half. Marlin Haywood added a three-pointer of his own as Bradford built a 31-16 lead.
The eight first-half points by Carter helped him finish with a team-high 13.
After Cobarris made one of his five steals, Jonathan Andrews scored on a rebound putback. A Johnson steal led to a Taylor layup off a Carter assist.
Johnson blocked a shot on the defensive end. Cobarris then scored on a drive to the basket, picking up a foul and making the awarded free throw, concluding the first-half scoring for Bradford, which took a 38-17 lead into the break.
Cobarris had nine points in the half, which helped him finish with 11.
Bradford was outscored 11-5 to start the second half and struggled throughout the third quarter with only three field goals. Jordan Cason had two of those baskets and finished with four second-half field goals overall, giving him 12 total points.
Haywood also finished in double digits with 11 points, while Taylor had nine points.
The Tornadoes also got seven points from Johnson, four points from Jy’Quez Cason and two points from Andrews.
Johnson and Jordan Cason led the team in rebounds with five apiece.
Haywood added four assists and four steals to his totals.
Bradford entered the game off an 84-56 season-opening loss to Class 5A Fleming Island on Dec. 5 in Orange Park.
Jordan Cason led the Tornadoes with 12 points, while Cobarris and Johnson each had 11. Bradford also got nine points from Jy’Quez Cason, eight points from Haywood, three points from Taylor and two points from Carter.
Haywood and Taylor shared the team high in assists with four each, while Haywood also led Bradford in rebounds with four.
The Tornadoes host District 3 opponent Interlachen on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. and play at home again on Friday, Dec. 13, when they host fellow 3A school Crescent City at 6 p.m.
Bradford travels to play Class 5A Belleview on Monday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and then travels to play 2A P.K. Yonge on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
