BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Host Hawthorne opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run in handing the Bradford High School girls basketball team a 46-41 loss on Jan. 15.
It was the second straight battle of top-20 teams involving Bradford and the Tornadoes’ second straight loss. The Florida High School Athletic Association power rankings had Bradford (8-7) ranked 20th in Class 3A and Hawthorne (8-3) 14th in Class 1A.
The Tornadoes got off to a good start, with Destiny Crum sinking a three-point shot. A Jada Hankerson basket off a steal put Bradford us 5-4.
Hawthorne scored 10 of the next 11 points to take a 14-6 lead in the second quarter. Bradford committed six turnovers during Hawthorne’s run, which included two consecutive baskets by De’Mya Adams and a three-pointer by Lakijah Brown.
Bradford had an 8-2 run to start the second quarter. Hankerson had the Tornadoes’ first basket of the quarter, followed by a three-pointer by Ar’Nayshia Griffin. Griffin then scored on a rebound putback before making a play on the defensive end, forcing a turnover which led to a basket by Crum, leaving the Tornadoes trailing 16-15.
Adams scored off a turnover for the Hornets, but Crum answered with a three-point basket that tied the game at 18-18 with approximately two minutes remaining until halftime.
Hawthorne would go back up on top when Adams scored off a turnover, but Griffin came back and sank a foul-line jumper, sending the teams into the break tied at 20-20.
The Tornadoes had a 7-0 spurt in the third quarter to take a five-point lead. Hankerson made two free throws and scored on a drive to the basket. Khamyra Hankerson made a free throw before Ajiyah Jackson scored on a layup off a Jada Hankerson assist, making it a 27-22 game.
Most of the quarter, though, was a struggle for both teams. They combined to shoot 5 of 21 from the field as well as committing a total of 10 turnovers.
A Crum three-pointer did send Bradford into the final quarter leading 30-29, but a three-pointer by Hawthorne’s Zakena Ealy began an 11-0 Hornets run to start the fourth. Adams had two three-point baskets during that span to help put the Hornets up 40-30.
Bradford didn’t get a field goal until less than four minutes remained, when Jada Hankerson sank a three-pointer. Jackson was later fouled underneath the basket after receiving a Jada Hankerson pass. She missed both of her free-throw attempts with 3:42 on the clock.
Hawthorne held the ball and milked more than a minute off the clock before the Tornadoes started fouling (Bradford had no team fouls before the Hornets’ possession). With 1:34 to play, Ranicia Coleman was fouled while shooting. She made 1 of 2 free throws for a 41-34 Hawthorne lead. Rhamani Sheppard-Rentz then had a steal for the Hornets, which led to Adams getting fouled on her way to the basket. Adams made both free throws with 1:08 to play.
Crum hit her fourth three-pointer of the night with 50 seconds left. It was the second of just two field goals the Tornadoes made in the fourth quarter.
That long-range shot made Crum the team’s leading scorer with 14 points, while Jada Hankerson and Griffin had 12 and 11, respectively. Griffin also grabbed 10-plus rebounds.
Jackson had three points, while Khamyra Hankerson added one.
Bradford plays at Keystone Heights on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. and will host Suwannee on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. On Monday, Jan. 22, the Tornadoes travel to play Dunnellon at 7 p.m. Bradford then returns home to play Oakleaf on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m.
