BY CLIFF SMELLEY
A five-point game in the third quarter turned into a rout as visiting Fort White went on a 26-0 run in defeating the Bradford High School boys basketball team 65-34 on Feb. 1.
Race Black and Damarion Hankerson each scored five points for the Tornadoes in a competitive first quarter. A Black three-pointer tied the score at 9-9. Fort White, which entered the game fifth in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A power rankings, went back on top, but the Bradford tied it again when Keith Taylor scored off a Hankerson assist. Mattox Burgin then put the Tornadoes on top 13-11, but the Indians’ Jayden Jackson answered.
A Hankerson three-pointer sent Bradford into the second quarter leading 16-13.
Fort White scored nine of the first 11 points of the second quarter. A Burgin basket left Bradford trailing by two late in the half, but the Indians’ Darion Brinson scored the final five points to send Fort White into halftime leading 27-20.
After the Indians scored the first basket of the third quarter, Burgin received a Taylor pass and drained a three-pointer. Taylor then grabbed a rebound on the defensive end and threw a pass downcourt to Burgin, who scored to make it a 29-25 game.
The Indians scored six straight points before Hankerson made a three-point shot that left Bradford trailing 35-28.
Breion Johnson had the game’s next basket, which pulled the Tornadoes to within five.
Fort White then went on its big run, sparked by Brandon Demartino. Demartino made back-to-back three-pointers, while a steal by Darion Brinson led to another Fort White basket. Demartino then sank another three-point shot to put the Indians up 46-30.
Three turnovers led to points as Fort White entered the fourth quarter leading 53-30.
The run continued as the Indians scored the first eight points of the final quarter. Hankerson ended the Bradford drought with a three-point basket.
Hankerson and Burgin finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Tornadoes also got five from Black, four from Johnson and two from Taylor.
Bradford ended the regular season with a 67-33 loss at Creekside on Feb. 3. The Tornadoes (7-16) now prepare to play a semifinal game against P.K. Yonge (11-12) in the District 2-3A tournament on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at P.K. Yonge. Bradford is the fourth seed, while P.K. Yonge is the top seed.
