BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
The Bradford High School girls basketball team avenged a preseason loss to P.K. Yonge, but the Tornadoes have since lost two in a row, with the latest loss coming to visiting Ed White by a score of 51-33 on Dec. 18.
The Tornadoes (4-4) didn’t get on the board against the Class 5A Commanders (3-7) until Ar’Nayshia Griffin made two free throws at the 4:07 mark of the first quarter. It wasn’t until 1:46 remained in the quarter that Bradford made its first field goal, but that basket — a fastbreak layup by Jada Hankerson — sparked a 7-0 run that sent the Tornadoes into the second quarter trailing 13-9.
Just like in the first, it took Bradford approximately half of the second quarter before putting points on the board. Those came off a three-pointer by Khamyra Hankerson at the 4:18 mark.
Two three-pointers by White’s Alaysha Williams gave the Commanders a 25-13 lead.
Griffin scored the final four points of the half. She collected two points off an offensive rebound and was able to beat the clock on a driving layup to make it a 25-17 game.
The Tornadoes got off to a quick start in the second half, with Khamyra Hankerson making a three-pointer and Jada Hankerson getting fouled on a drive following her own steal. She made 1 of 2 free throws to leave Bradford trailing 25-21.
White outscored the Tornadoes 14-4 the rest of the quarter to take a 39-25 lead into the fourth. Bradford was never able to cut its deficit to single digits.
Griffin led the team with 17 points, while Jada Hankerson and Khamyra Hankerson scored nine and six, respectively. Destiny Crum added one point.
Bradford entered the game off a 63-41 road loss to District 2-3A opponent Trinity Catholic on Dec. 15. Jada Hankerson poured in 23 points to lead the team, while Griffin and Kailyn Teal added eight and six points, respectively. Crum and Alysia Rentz each had two points.
Trinity improved to 6-1.
Bradford travels to play Class 1A Fort White on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. and will host reigning Class 1A state-champion Hawthorne on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m.
The Tornadoes then take part in a Dec. 27-29 girls and boys tournament at BHS (see related story).
