BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Jada Hankerson scored 11 of her team’s 16 third-quarter points, helping the Bradford High School girls basketball team defeat visiting District 2-3A opponent P.K. Yonge 55-49 on Dec. 13.
The Tornadoes (4-2), who lost to P.K. Yonge in the preseason, got off to a slow start, not getting their first field goal until Ajiyah Jackson made a wide-open layup off a Khamyra Hankerson assist with 3:27 remaining in the first quarter. That basket, though, started an 8-3 run to close out the quarter, with Bradford trailing 11-8. Jada Hankerson hit a pull-up three-pointer, followed by Jackson once again scoring down low, this time off an Ar’Nayshia Griffin pass.
P.K. Yonge (4-4), a regional finalist from last season, increased its lead to 15-8 in the second quarter, but Bradford then got back-to-back baskets from Khamyra Hankerson on a three-pointer and Griffin after a Destiny Crum offensive rebound.
Crum later sank a shot from beyond the arc to make it 17-16, with the Blue Wave still clinging to a lead. A free throw by Khamyra Hankerson would even the score.
Reniyah Clark came up big for the Blue Wave late in the quarter. She had a basket off her own steal to break the 17-17 tie. She then rebounded missed shots by Bradford on its next two offensive possessions before recording an assist on a three-pointer by Alyssa Williams that put P.K. Yonge up 22-17.
Jackson scored off a rebound putback to make it a three-point game. After a Blue Wave turnover, Jackson grabbed another offensive rebound and was fouled on her ensuing shot attempt. She made one of her two free-throw attempts to send the Tornadoes into halftime trailing 22-20.
Jada Hankerson, who was the game’s leading scorer with 16 points, had the first basket of the third quarter. The Blue Wave’s Clark answered with a score of her own before Bradford went on a 14-1 run. After a Jada Hankerson free throw, Griffin forced a turnover, which led to Jada Hankerson being fouled on a drive to the basket. She made both free throws at the 7:11 mark of the quarter to give the Tornadoes their first lead of the game at 25-24.
Griffin forced another turnover, but P.K. Yonge got the ball right back on a steal by Ashlyn Young. The Blue Wave couldn’t turn it into points, with Griffin blocking a shot.
A free throw by Griffin after she was fouled on a rebound-putback attempt gave Bradford a two-point lead. A Griffin steal then led to Jada Hankerson driving right down the middle of the lane for a layup. Hankerson would do it again after Jackson got a blocked shot on the
defensive end, scoring another two points to put the Tornadoes ahead 30-24.
After P.K. Yonge got a free throw from Da’mar Wims, Jada Hankerson scored on another drive to the basket. Jada Hankerson then had assists on baskets by Griffin and Jackson as Bradford went up 36-25.
The Blue Wave scored the final five points of the third quarter and the first two of the fourth quarter, with Clark’s steal and subsequent basket cutting Bradford’s lead to six. The Tornadoes didn’t put points on the board in the fourth quarter until two and a half minutes had elapsed, with Griffin making two free throws.
P.K. Yonge’s Taylor Powers scored off a turnover to make the score 38-34. Jada Hankerson added a free throw for the Tornadoes, but a 2-for-2 trip to the foul line by Young pulled the Blue Wave within three points.
Young later tied the score at 41-41 when she made a three-pointer with 3:15 to play. Bradford got consecutive baskets from Khamyra Hankerson and Jackson in taking a four-point lead. Clark went to the foul line with 1:48 remaining. She made her first attempt, while her missed second attempt was rebounded by Young, who put it back for two points, which left P.K. Yonge trailing 45-44.
The Tornadoes scored the next eight points. Crum made a three-pointer and then rebounded a missed shot by P.K. Yonge. Khamyra Hankerson scored on a drive to the basket. After a Blue Wave turnover, Khamyra Hankerson scored off an offensive rebound. Jackson added a free throw for a 53-44 lead with 31. 5 seconds left.
Jackson finished with 12 points, while Griffin and Khamyra Hankerson had 11 and 10, respectively. Crum added six points.
Bradford travels to Ocala to play district opponent Trinity Catholic on Friday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes return home to play Ed White on Monday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. before traveling to play Fort White on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.
