After a string of 13 wins, the Dunnellon Tigers's good fortune finally ran out on Monday. They were just a bucket shy of victory and fell 42-41 to Bradford. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points Dunnellon has scored all season.
Dunnellon's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Tatiana Matthews, who scored 15 points along with three steals and three blocks. Matthews is absolutely dominating the point category: she's posted at least 15 every time she's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Shamyra Reid, who scored six points along with 16 rebounds.
Dunnellon struggled to work together and finished the game with only four assists. That's the fewest assists they've managed all season.
Bradford's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Ar'Nayshia Griffin led the charge by dropping a double-double on 15 points and 12 rebounds. Griffin is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as she's now pulled down eight or more in the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Jada Hankerson, who scored 14 points along with six steals.
Dunnellon's loss ended a six-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 16-3. As for Bradford, the win was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 10-7.
Dunnellon will head out on the road to challenge Lake Weir at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The timing isn't great for Lake Weir: they have been struggling with six straight losses at home, while Dunnellon has snatched up six consecutive wins on the road. Bradford will take on The Villages Charter at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Florida (The Villages Charter is ranked 188th, while Bradford is ranked 185th).
