Telegraph Staff Writer
One team had to walk off the court with a win. Damarion Hankerson played a large role in making sure it was his team.
Hankerson scored nine points in the second quarter as the Bradford High School boys basketball team outscored Tavares 15-2 in the second quarter of what would be a 39-23 for the Tornadoes in the final game of the Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke Christmas Tournament on Dec. 21 at BHS.
It was the first win of the season for Bradford, which had lost all six of its previous games by double figures.
Tavares, which lost its first two games in the tournament by 59 and 37 points, fell to 0-10.
The Tornadoes missed their first three field-goal attempts, but Tavares only had two points on the board when Mattox Burgin made a three-pointer following a turnover. The Bulldogs went back on top when Camarie Williams scored on a baseline drive, but consecutive baskets by Journie Sampson gave Bradford the lead for good.
It was a one-point game when Breion Johnson scored on a rebound putback. Burgin then blocked a three-point attempt by the Bulldogs’ Sam Dewitt to help the Tornadoes go into the second quarter leading 9-6.
Sampson rebounded his own miss and scored to start the second quarter. Hankerson sank a three-pointer and was fouled in the process. He made the ensuing free-throw attempt as Bradford scored the first six points of the quarter.
Bradford missed its next five shot attempts before Hankerson grabbed an offensive rebound and knocked down a foul-line jumper. Hankerson then made a three-pointer following a turnover to put the Tornadoes ahead 20-8.
Hankerson came up big on the defensive end with two steals at the end of the first half. The first led to a basket by Burgin. Bradford missed two shots following Hankerson’s second steal before Burgin grabbed a rebound and was fouled on his putback attempt with six-tenths of a second left on the clock. Burgin made both free throws to send the Tornadoes into the locker room leading 24-8.
Bradford struggled offensively to start the third quarter, but did a good job of limiting the Bulldogs’ offensive opportunities early in the quarter, with Burgin grabbing two defensive rebounds and Sampson pulling down one. Still, Tavares got two consecutive baskets from Izaih Williams to make it a 26-14 game.
The Tornadoes responded with an 8-1 run to close the quarter. Keith Taylor drove to the basket for a score and a foul, making the free throw to put Bradford up by 15. Hankerson scored on a drive to the basket before Burgin made a three-pointer. Burgin blocked a shot late in the quarter as the Tornadoes built their lead to 34-15.
Bradford was content to hold onto the ball and milk the clock in the final quarter, which saw the teams combine for only 13 points.
Johnson pulled down three defensive rebounds in the fourth quarter. He and Burgin combined for almost 20 rebounds for the game.
Hankerson led the Tornadoes with 13 points, while Burgin and Sampson had 10 and eight, respectively. Johnson and Taylor each added three points, while Jordan Thomas had two.
The Tornadoes will participate in the Dec. 28-30 Jarvis Williams Tournament at Palatka High School. Their first game in 2023 will be at home against P.K. Yonge on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Braford will host Hawthorne on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to play Trenton on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Bradford will host Eastside on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
