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EspañolOn a boys basketball region final night drenched in drama, Oak Ridge poured in 98 points, Lake Howell and Evans rallied to win, CFCA again eliminated 10-time state champion Orlando Christian Prep, and Central Florida’s No. 1 ranked team, Lake Highland Prep, saw its season end with its first and only loss of the season against a FHSAA foe.
But Saturday’s most bizarre finish unfolded at Winter Park High School, where fans of both the Wildcats and Lake Mary ran onto the court to celebrate victory after the horn sounded, ending a low-scoring game that had fans on the edge of their seats all night.
The five Orlando-area region champs advance to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state tournaments, which will be played in the next two weeks at a new site — the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
The FHSAA is scheduled to have rankings updated and state tournament pairings posted on its web site on Sunday morning. A bit later in the day, game times for semifinals and finals should be included.
Pioneers prevail
Oak Ridge’s rebuilt team struggled in the regular season to live up to lofty expectations the program has had since the Pioneers won a 2018 state championship. But the ninth team coached by Steve Reece, again assembled with athleticism and talent, met the standard in the Class 7A Region 2 final at home — outscoring dangerous Olympia 98-83 in what Reece said was his team’s best showing of the season.
“That was a big-time game,” Reece said after his team repelled a late rally by the Titans (17-11). “This was the most detailed game plan we had all year. The guys executed. We just had to keep the pace.”
Pioneers’ pace is a full-court blend of fastbreaks and frenetic pressure defense.
UCF signee Donovan Williams scored 24 points and had 5 assists in the win. Jordan Smith, a 6-foot-7 freshman with big-time potential, added 16 points. Whitfield Bynoe (15 points), Jahmar Smith (14 points), and Nate Earl (13 points, 5 assists) also delivered. And 6-10 Tim Winkler made his presence felt.
Oak Ridge (20-9) shot 64% for the game and was 9-of-17 on 3-point shots. Williams and Smith were both 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The Pioneers led 42-38 at halftime before outscoring the Titans 35-19 in the third quarter.
Olympia’s James Nowells scored 26 points to close his outstanding junior season. He made six 3s. Kevin Edou, another junior, scored 16 points for the Titans.
— Buddy Collings
Oak Ridge, Winter Park, LHP cruise Saturday | FHSAA Basketball Playoffs
Streak stopped
Lake Highland, which topped area rankings from start to finish after beating Oak Ridge early in the season, started strong but couldn’t hang on in a 61-52 homecourt loss to Villages Charter in the 3A Region 2 final.
The Highlanders, who finished 28-2, scored the game’s first 10 points and led 18-5 in the first quarter. But the Buffalo (23-7), stacked with major college prospects, fought back. Villages led 49-45 going into the final period and used an 8-2 run to seize control.
Michael Madume, one of four senior starters for LHP, led the Highlanders with 28 points.
Aaron Britt led Villages with 20.
Lake Highland was No. 2 and Villages No. 3 in the MaxPreps 3A rankings.
— Rick Staudt
No. 1 Lake Highland faces loaded Villages | Boys Basketball Playoffs
Rams’ history
The 7A Region 1 final pitting Lake Mary against Winter Park was so close it wasn’t decided when the buzzer sounded. The referees had to huddle, with teams and spectators holding their breath, before coming to the conclusion that Winter Park’s final bucket came too late to count — giving Lake Mary a historic 34-33 victory.
The decision, which appeared to be correct, brought fourth-year Lake Mary coach Sirdarius Roundtree to his knees, sobbing on the gym floor while his players celebrated with fans and family.
“I’m so proud of this program and what we’ve grown to be,” Roundtree said, wiping tears from his eyes. “I was sick (flu) this week. My staff, my players, they came through for me.”
The Rams (23-7), who had never before won a regional game in this sport, are 5-0 in postseason play and will join Oak Ridge, Sarasota and reigning champ Miami Columbus in the 7A state tournament.
Owen Cenoya (10 points), Tyler Schenck (9) and Jacoby Osbourne (8) led Lake Mary’s scorers in a defensive duel. Winter Park (22-8) senior Will Ryan scored 17 points.
— Buddy Collings
SilverHawks succeed
Skilled sophomore Johnas Maurice II knocked down a 3-point shot that sparked Lake Howell in a 64-51 come-from-behind win against Buchholz for the 6A-1 title.
That shot, with the SilverHawks trailing by 15 with 2:24 left in the third quarter, ignited a raucous home crowd and led to the rally that advanced Lake Howell (25-5) to a state semi for the first time since its 2007 championship season. The Silverhawks outscored the Bobcats 31-11 in the final 10 minutes.
“I never worry,” Lake Howell coach Michael Sutton said afterward. “These guys have been persevering all year.”
Maurice led all scorers with 24 points. Ethan Diaz added 15 and Hayden Dzenutis 11 in the victory.
“I don’t get worried. I keep my composure at all times. I have to,” Maurice said. “No matter how much we’re down we’re gonna fight to the end and keep the intensity up.”
— Chris Hays
Finally! Lake Howell wins the big one
Evans beats Bartow
Evans, which has relied on defense and determination all season, turned in another gritty effort to beat Bartow 46-40 in the 6A-2 final.
The Trojans (22-7) trailed by 11 late in the third quarter but surged to take their first lead of the game at 39-38 with six minutes to go. Evans finished on a 7-2 to run to clinch its third straight state tourney berth.
“It’s been the same thing all season. We go down and we find a way to comeback,” Evans coach Lonza Morgan said. “This is the most resilient bunch of kids that I have coached.”
The Trojans played most of the game without their leading scorer junior Abimael Belleus, who hurt his ankle at practice during the week.
Sophomore Jakai Hardy and junior Nikarens Deceus both scored 12 points in the win. Senior center Dewayne Dixon was a force with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
“I thought down the stretch Evans was the tougher team,” Bartow (24-6) coach Terrence McGriff said.
— Jean Racine
Chocolate Thunder Classic pays tribute to Evans High greats | Varsity Weekly
CFCA ousts OCP
Before last season, perennial power Orlando Christian Prep had won nine consecutive region titles, mostly at the crosstown rival Central Florida Christian Academy.
And then Albert Settles arrived at CFCA as head coach to bring a new, fresh attitude.
Now it’s the Eagles that have a 1A regional title streak after their 57-52 homecourt win over OCP.
“This rivalry goes back way before I got here and any of these players arrived,” said a soaked Settles after his team doused him with a bucket of cold water. “Our guys understood it wouldn’t be easy with OCP beating us in district (final) and being a 10-time state titlist.”
Dylan Campbell led the Eagles (23-6) with 16 points, including three 3-pointers in the second half. Josh Hernandez delivered 14 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds; and Trevor Miller added 13 points and 7 rebounds. Alexander DiPaolo, CFCA’s leading scorer, was held to 10 points but started a 12-0 run that extinguished a Warriors comeback attempt.
Jayden Strader led OCP (21-7) with 17 points and 7 rebounds.
— Steve Gorches
Elsewhere
The First Academy (19-11) traveled to Jacksonville and lost 64-37 to the No. 1 ranked 2A team Providence (27-3).
Pine Ridge (14-15) saw its Cinderella season end with a 70-58 loss at Lecanto (24-6) in 5A.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].