BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School was able to put several runs together whenever visiting Bell began cutting into the Tornadoes’ lead, resulting in a 66-47 win in a boys basketball game on Jan. 4.
It was the first game of 2025 for the Tornadoes (7-2), who won their third straight and has now won seven of their last eight games.
A three-pointer by Maliki Cobarris was the start of a 12-3 second-quarter run that put Bradford up 30-17. Cobarris followed up his long-range shot with a two-point basket off a turnover. Another turnover led to a score by Jordan Cason.
Bell’s Sheltin Varnon made a three-pointer, but the Tornadoes answered with five straight points. Cason scored off a Cobarris steal. Cobarris then had a rebound on the defensive end and got the ball back on the offensive end, knocking down a three-pointer for a 13-point lead.
The Bulldogs were able to trim Bradford’s lead to nine before the Tornadoes’ Breion Johnson sank a three-point shot, making the score 33-21. Bell scored the next four points, which had Bradford taking an eight-point lead into the half.
Bradford scored the first five points of the third quarter. Cason drove to the basket for a score and picked up a foul. He made the awarded free throw. Johnson then scored following a turnover to put the Tornadoes ahead 38-25.
Bell cut its deficit to single digits before Bradford got two free throws from Cobarris and a Cason layup off a Steven Carter assist.
A three-pointer by Bell’s Varnon helped the Bulldogs cut Bradford’s lead to seven points. The teams exchanged baskets before the Tornadoes scored the final five points of the third quarter. Carter scored off a layup and drew a foul, making the awarded free throw. A steal by K.J. Taylor led to a Cason basket and a 51-40 Bradford lead.
The Tornadoes used a 9-1 run to go up by 17 in the fourth quarter. Cobarris made a free throw before Larry Ardley had a layup off a Carter assist. After another free throw by Cobarris, Carter knocked down a three-pointer following a turnover. Cobarris the scored on a drive to the basket to make the score 60-43.
Cobarris finished with a game-high 23 points, while Cason and Johnson had 17 and 12, respectively. The Tornadoes also got eight points from Carter and two each from Ardley, Taylor and Jy’Quez Cason.
It was the fourth straight game in which Jordan Cason recorded a double-double. He grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds against Bell, with Cobarris and Johnson each finishing with five.
Johnson led the team in blocks with four and steals with three.
Carter and Taylor had five and four assists, respectively.
Bradford returns to action with three straight home games — against Middleburg on Thursday, Jan. 9, Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 10 and Baker County on Saturday, Jan. 11. All tip off at 7:30 p.m.
The Tornadoes travel to play Palatka on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m.
