The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, January 29, is KJ Bradley of the Eastside (Gainesville) boys’ basketball team.
Bradley, a junior, scored 10 of his 14 points in a decisive second quarter as the Rams rolled to a 67-58 win on the road over city rival P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) on Tuesday night.
The game between two teams which entered with a combined 35-4 record got off to a flying start in the opening period.
Eastside senior Ahkil Wyatt knocked down three three-pointers, but senior Jalen Speer answered with three makes from behind the arc, as the two teams were tied at 17-all through the opening eight minutes.
But Bradley sparked the decisive run for the Rams in the second quarter and hit two three-pointers as well. Eastside knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half and outscored P.K. Yonge, 21-9, in the second period to take a 38-26 lead into the halftime break.
P.K. Yonge picked up their offense in the second half but could only get as close as five points as the Rams maintained their lead.
Four Eastside players scored in double figures, led by Wyatt with 19 points. Bradley followed with 14 points and seniors Anthony Richardson and Emontea Shannon added 10 points. The Rams made eight three pointers and won their sixth straight game.
The Blue Wave were led by senior Israel Wilcox with 21 points, including four three-pointers, and Speer chipped in with 17 points but the two seniors were the only P.K Yonge players in double figures.
Eastside is now 19-2 and will travel to Dunnellon on Friday in their final District 6-6A contest.
P.K. Yonge is now 17-3 and has dropped two in a row following a 54-49 loss at Hawthorne last Friday. The Blue Wave will be back in action on Thursday night in Central Florida at Class 3A No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
