Williams powers Pioneers
Oak Ridge still isn’t at full strength, but the potential for the Pioneers (4-0) was on full display on Saturday as powerhouse forward Emmitt Williams contributed in a 64-61 home win over Orlando Christian Prep in a clash of two top state-title contenders.
Williams, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior who was exiled to the sideline until this week due to sexual-assault allegations, had 16 points and 13 rebounds in his second game in the Breast Cancer Awareness Classic.
His performance, in front of a big crowd and often in duels against North Carolina recruit Nassir Little of OCP, included a third-quarter dunk that rattled the backboard standard and an early swish on a 3-point shot that showed Williams is more than just a power player.
He debuted with 22 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Jones on Friday night.
“He brings a toughness, a great leader, and a great teammate,” said Oak Ridge coach Steve Reece.
Guards Rob Perry and Damon Harge combined for 35 points and the Pioneers defense was stifling for three quarters.
Oak Ridge was up 51-34 early in the fourth period before Little sparked OCP when he flushed a two-handed dunk over Williams in a sequence that saw both fivestar prospects soar above the rim.
Little fouled out with 1:25 remaining. He had 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.
C.J. Walker, a 6-7 junior, had multiple dunks for OCP. He and Jordan Goodson helped the Warriors outscore the Pioneers 27-13 in the final seven minutes.
Oak Ridge hopes to soon add injured Texas A&M signee Antwann Jones and junior Niven Glover to its talent stockpile.
Williams, ranked No. 20 by ESPN among Class of 2018 college prospects, was arrested on Oct. 18 and accused of sexual assault against a female friend in her Orlando apartment. His attorney, Dean Mosley, said Saturday that the case has not been resolved.
“He was arrested, but no documents formally charging him with anything at this point,” Mosley said.
Reece said the Orange County district cleared Williams to play.
Rifen Miguel of West Oaks acknowledged that he’s not in great shape yet. But his stat line was thicker than his waistline in an earlier BCAC game.
The 6-8 post player had 27 points and 16 rebounds as the difference maker for the Flame (8-1) in a 79-70 win vs. Leesburg (3-1).
Leesburg had no answer in the paint for Miguel, who weighs in at 239 pounds. The native of Angola wants to be more like 227.
“I went two months without basketball so I’m out of shape now,” Miguel said. school
Miguel returned to West Oaks, along with his younger brother, Selton, two weeks ago and played for the first time on Tuesday. He left in January after a year and a half in the program and switched to Sarasota’s Impact Academy — another independent.
Miguel said he was concerned that accreditation issues at West Oaks could prevent him from qualifying for a college scholarship. That, he said, has been cleared up so he happily returned.
“He’s that veteran guy now,” said West Oaks coach Kenny Gillion. “He just needs to get back into shape.”
Shaquan Jules scored 22 points for Windermere Prep (2-1) in a 66-50 win over Villages Charter (2-1), which was in a tight game until its standout junior guard, Tre Mann, injured his right ankle 10 seconds into the second quarter.
Unbeaten Edgewater routed Lake Highland Prep 77-51 in the championship game of the Rotary Tip-off Classic at Winter Park.
Tourney MVP Robert Allen had 24 points and Michael Eads Jr. added 18 as the Eagles (4-0) became the first school to win consecutive Tip-Off championships since Lake Highland in 2011-12. Allen had 15 points and Trevon Case 13 in the first two quarters for Edgewater. Nick Honor scored a gamehigh 27 for Lake Highland.
“It all starts with defense,” said Edgewater coach Jason Atherton. “When we rebound the basketball, we can get it out and run; that’s what we do.”
In the third-place game, Daytona Beach Father Lopez’s Devon Knaub made a layup with 1.7 seconds remaining to give the Green Wave a 39-37 victory against Boone. The game ended with a 3-point attempt by Boone’s Sean Halloran bouncing off the glass.