BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
North Marion scored points off four turnovers during a 9-0 run to start the game and led by double digits most of the game in defeating the Bradford High School boys basketball team 60-22 on day two of the Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke Christmas Tournament at BHS on Dec. 20.
The Tornadoes (0-6) finally got on the board with a Mattox Burgin three-pointer at the 5:26 mark, but turnovers continued to be problem. Bradford turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter and 20 times overall.
Journie Sampson scored on a layup, set up by a pass from Damarion Hankerson, while Hankerson later sank a three-pointer, but by that point, the Colts were ahead 19-9. North Marion (5-2) built a 17-point lead going into the second quarter.
A Keith Taylor drive to the basket toward the end of the first half gave Bradford its only field goal of the second quarter as the Tornadoes went into halftime trailing 38-12.
The third quarter got off to a positive start for Bradford, with Sampson scoring off a Jamarion Hood assist. The Tornadoes’’ next four possessions consisted of three turnovers and a missed field goal.
Hankerson went 3 of 5 at the foul line — earning one trip when he was fouled on a three-pointer — in the third quarter, which ended with the Colts leading 52-18.
Bradford got seven points in all from Hankerson, while Sampson had six. Taylor scored four points, while Burgin and Breion Johnson added three and two, respectively.
The Tornadoes play Tavares on the final day of the tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m. The day’s action also consists of Keystone Heights playing Suwannee at 6 p.m. A 4:30 p.m. matchup between North Marion and Paxon was canceled due to North Marion withdrawing.
