BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford Middle School put together runs of 10-3 and 10-4, but couldn’t overtake Williston in the end, losing 31-26 in the championship game of the Suwannee Middle Athletic Conference girls basketball tournament on Jan. 25 in Keystone Heights.
The second seed Red Devils never trailed and led by as many as 17 in the second half.
Bradford, the top seed, struggled to start the game, committing eight turnovers in the first quarter and falling behind 11-0. It wasn’t until 30 seconds remained in the six-minute quarter that the Tornadoes got on the board, thanks to Cayson Hampton stealing an inbounds pass underneath the Williston basket and sinking a jump shot.
Takayla Barnes made a jump shot to make the score 13-4 early in the second quarter. The Devils scored two straight baskets, including one off a turnover, before Barnes made another basket that left Bradford trailing 17-6.
The Tornadoes were 0 for 8 from the foul line in the first half as they went into the break trailing 19-6.
A three-point basket early in the third quarter helped Williston go up by 16. Bradford then put together a 10-3 run that extended into the fourth quarter. Hampton made two baskets to start the run, while Elaina Smith made two free throws at the end of the third quarter after the Tornadoes had missed their first 12 attempts from the foul line.
Wynter Barrington scored off a Hampton assist to start the fourth quarter. Williston made two free throws to go up 25-14 before Barrington scored again, this time off a Barnes assist.
Barrington scored eight points in the fourth quarter. She had the first two points in a 10-4 run that closed out the game.
Two free throws by Jayda Sambolah made it a 27-20 game with 2:16 to play. After Williston made a free throw, Hampton grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it a six-point game at the 1:37 mark.
Each team missed two field-goal attempts before the Devils finally put a shot in with 46 seconds remaining. Hampton scored on a drive to the basket with 20 seconds remaining to make the score 30-24. Sambolah then stole the ensuing inbounds pass, which led to a basket by Barrington.
The Devils made a free throw with a second left in the game to cap the scoring.
Hampton led the Tornadoes with 10 points, while Barrington finished with eight.
