Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School snapped a three-game losing streak in boys basketball, getting 10 points from Dae’Jon Shanks and eight points each from three players in a 62-26 win over visiting Keystone Heights on Jan. 17.
The Tornadoes (6-7) struggled early on the offensive end, failing to score any points off five Keystone turnovers. The Indians, meanwhile, took advantage of a steal by Seth Gagnon, which led to a basket by Zeke Pelham and tied the score at 2-2.
A backcourt steal by Shanks led to Amari Jones getting fouled on a shot attempt. He made both free throws to put Bradford ahead 4-2, but the Indians (2-11) tied it on their next trip down the court on a dunk by Gagnon.
Bradford closed out the quarter on an 18-2 run, which included two three-pointers by Shanks. Shanks, who scored all 10 of his points in the first quarter, also scored off a Jontez Williams steal as well as getting a bucket off a steal of his own.
Keystone got baskets from Bryant Kubisak and Andru Siemer early in the second quarter, but the Tornadoes increased their lead to 27, with Chalil Cummings scoring five straight points during one stretch and Hunter Crawford scoring six straight during another.
Two turnovers led to baskets by Bradford late in the half, which ended with the Tornadoes leading 45-16.
Bradford increased its lead to 37 in the third quarter, getting six points from Sincere Hankerson.
Crawford, Cummings and Hankerson each finished with eight points for Bradford, which also got seven points from Jones, six from Keith Ardley, five from Robbie Simmons-Godwin, four each from Bryson Bowen and Torin Brazell and two from Williams.
Simmons-Godwin led the team in rebounds with seven, while Crawford and Bowen grabbed six and five, respectively.
Jones and Shanks each had four assists, with Shanks also coming away with five steals. Williams and Bowen had four and three steals, respectively.
The Indians were led by Siemer’s six points, while Gagnon had five.
Bradford, which is ranked seventh in Class 1A, plays at top-ranked Newberry on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. and will host Wildwood on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The Tornadoes then return to action with a home game against Trenton on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to play Gainesville on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
Keystone plays at St. Joseph Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. and will travel to play Interlachen on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. The Indians then travel to play Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. before returning home to play St. Joseph Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
Tornadoes enter game off 1-3 week
In the week leading up to the Keystone game, the Tornadoes defeated a fellow Class 1A team that was ranked number one, but then lost three straight by a combined 20 points.
On Jan. 11, Jones and Shayne Davis poured in 19 and 13 points, respectively, in a 56-51 win over visiting Newberry.
Williams and Brazell scored nine and eight points, respectively, while Hankerson had four. Simmons-Godwin scored two points, with Crawford adding one.
Brazell led the team in rebounds with seven, while Crawford and Hankerson each grabbed five.
Williams had six assists and four steals, while Davis had three assists and six steals. Crawford also had three assists.
Bradford was outscored 14-3 in the third quarter of what would be an eventual 49-37 loss at North Marion on Jan. 13.
Jones scored 16 points, followed by Williams with nine. Hankerson and Simmons-Godwin each had four points, while Brazell and Crawford each added two.
Crawford, Hankerson and Williams each grabbed five rebounds, with Williams also dishing out three assists.
Davis had three assists and four steals.
On Jan. 14, Williams had a solid overall game with 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, but it wasn’t enough, as the Tornadoes lost 54-49 to visiting P.K. Yonge.
Simmons-Godwin scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Ardley and Davis each had six points. Brazell had two points, while Jametrius Pringle had one.
Isaiah Wilcox had five rebounds.
The Tornadoes had a five-point lead at halftime on Jan. 15, but wound up losing 48-45 to visiting Madison County.
Simmons-Godwin finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
Williams and Hankerson scored nine and eight points, respectively, while Wilcox had five. Crawford and Pringle each added two points.
Pringle and Williams grabbed 10 and eight rebounds, respectively, while Brazell had seven. Williams also had four assists, while Wilcox had three assists and three steals.
