BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School struggled from the field, shooting just 21 percent in a 45-24 girls basketball loss to Class 7A Tocoi Creek on day two of a winter tournament at BHS on Dec. 28.
Tocoi Creek (11-3) opened the game with a three-pointer by McKenzie Mabry. It was the first of five long-distance shots made by the Toros in the first half.
The Tornadoes (7-5) answered, with Ar’Nayshia Griffin scoring on a drive to the basket. That was as close as Bradford would get. The Tornadoes had only one other field goal in the quarter, with Ajiyah Jackson scoring off a Khamyra Hankerson assist.
Bradford also committed nine turnovers in the first quarter.
Another three-pointer by the Toros’ Mabry send Tocoi Creek into the second quarter leading 13-4. The Toros then scored 11 of the first 14 points of the second quarter. That span included three-pointers by Mabry and Audrey Beyer.
Tocoi Creek led 26-11 at halftime and extended the lead to 30-11 before Jackson scored off a Jada Hankerson assist. Bradford scored two of the next three baskets, with Destiny Crum sinking a jump shot and Jada Hankerson driving to the basket for another two points. The Toros, though, got six points from Gabi Iturralde in taking a 19-point lead into the final quarter.
Jada Hankerson score seven points in the fourth quarter to finish with 11, which tied her Tocoi Creek’s Kathryn Moeller for second-most in the game.(Mabry led all scorers with 12 points.
Jackson added nine points for the Tornadoes, while Crum and Griffin each had two.
Bradford plays Keystone Heights (1-11) on the final day of the tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29. The rest of the tournament schedule has Tocoi Creek playing Williston at 2 p.m., the Ridgeview and Tavares boys teams playing at 3:30 p.m. and the Bradford and Keystone boys teams playing at 6:30 p.m.
