BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Jada Hankerson scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half as the Bradford High School girls basketball team defeated Williston 55-52 on day one of the BHS winter tournament on Dec. 27.
Bradford trailed by one point at halftime, but five of its first seven field-goal attempts of the second half were three-pointers. Hankerson had three of those as the Tornadoes (7-4) took a lead they’d never relinquish.
The game was tied at 14-14 after the first quarter. Williston (4-5) went on a 9-2 run to open the second, with a three-pointer by Kaelynn Brown putting the Red Devils up 23-16. Bradford’s Khamyra Hankerson answered with a three-pointer of her own to make it a four-point game. The Tornadoes missed their next five shot attempts and turned the ball over three times, but Williston couldn’t capitalize, scoring only three points.
Khamyra Hankerson scored off an inbounds play, which was the start of an 8-1 run to close out the half. Ar’Nayshia Griffin drove the baseline for a score and a foul, making the awarded free throw that left the Tornadoes trailing 26-24. After a basket by the Devils’ Jayla Coleman, Griffin scored off an offensive rebound. Griffin, who grabbed 10 rebounds in the half, was then fouled after a Williston turnover with 30 seconds on the clock. She made one of two free throws to send Bradford into halftime trailing 28-27.
Williston got off to a fast start in the second half. Delecia Dallas scored off her own steal, while Brown made a three-pointer. Jada Hankerson knocked down a three-pointer for Bradford, followed by a two-point bucket by the Devils’ Brown.
Bradford then scored seven straight points to take a 37-35 lead. Ajiyah Jackson had a layup off a Jada Hankerson assist, followed by a Jada Hankerson three-pointer. Jackson then added another basket off an offensive rebound.
The Devils scored the next two baskets before Jada Hankerson sank her third three-pointer of the quarter. Williston’s Brown then had a basket to put the Devils back on top, but a Destiny Crum steal led to an eventual three-pointer by Griffin, which sent the Tornadoes into the fourth quarter leading 43-41.
Bradford never trailed again.
Khamyra Hankerson sank a shot from beyond the arc for the first points of the fourth quarter. Jada Hankerson later scored off her own steal, getting fouled in the process. She made the ensuing free throw for a 49-43 lead.
Griffin forced a turnover that led to a layup by Crum off a Jada Hankerson assist, giving Bradford an eight-point lead.
Williston whittled its deficit down, with Dallas making a three-pointer and Brown adding a two-point field goal.
Jada Hankerson and Griffin each went 2 for 2 from the foul line to give the Tornadoes a 55-48 lead with 2:30 to play.
Williston missed its next four field-goal attempts, with the Tornadoes getting defensive rebounds from Griffin, Jackson and Jada Hankerson (2). The Devils didn’t get on the board again until Brown scored off a steal with 34 seconds remaining. Williston’s Tia Coleman rebounded a missed three-pointer by Bradford, which led to Janiyah Span scoring and drawing a foul that made it a 55-52 game. Span, with 7.8 seconds left on the clock, missed the awarded free throw, which was rebounded by Griffin.
Griffin and Jackson had six and eight rebounds, respectively, and finished in double figures in that category. Griffin posted a double-double with her 15 points, while Jackson had nine points. Khamyra Hankerson and Crum added eight and two points, respectively.
Bradford plays Tocoi Creek on day two of the tournament at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28. Williston plays Keystone Heights at 2 p.m.
