Williams avoids assault charges
Sexual battery charges leveled against Oak Ridge basketball standout Emmitt
Williams in October have been dropped — clearing the way for the elite prospect to focus on his senior season and choosing a college.
The Orange County state attorney’s office opted not to file formal charges against Williams. A court document filed Wednesday by an assistant state attorney office stated, “From the investigation which has been made, it is the opinion of the writer that this case is not suitable for prosecution.”
Williams, a 6-foot-7 power forward rated by ESPN as Florida’s No. 3 senior, sat out two games before being cleared to play by Orange County Public Schools on Dec. 1. On Thursday night he had a team-leading 21 points as the Pioneers (9-2) nearly pulled off an upset of a Memphis East (Tenn.) team that is ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today.
The Mustangs (10-0) won 62-60 on a tip-in with 2.7 seconds remaining by 6-11 James Wiseman, a five-star junior prospect, in a quarterfinal game at the City of Palm Classic in Fort Myers.
Oak Ridge, ranked No. 18 nationally, took a late 65-60 lead on a three-point play by Antwann Jones, but then gave up two layups off turnovers.
Orlando Christian Prep (4-3) edged Bradenton Lakewood Ranch 54-49 in a consolation game.
Kissimmee Osceola (8-1) suffered its first loss of the season, 70-63, to Miami Christian (9-3) in a matchup of two last season’s state championship schools. The game was a singular showcase game — not part of the 16-team tournament.
Williams, 19, was arrested on Oct. 11 and accused of a visiting a female friend’s apartment a day earlier and forcing her to have sex against her wishes, according to the Orlando Police report.
Prior to the arrest, LSU was listed as the frontrunner in a recruiting battle that also included Oregon, Florida, Kansas and numerous other major college programs.
Buddy Collings, Steven Barnhart
Magee keys win vs. UNC
Former First Academy standout
Fletcher Magee scored a game-high 27 points to lead Wofford to a stunning 79-75 road win over reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Lake Highland Prep alum Joel Berry II led UNC (10-2) with 23 points.
Magee, a 6-foot-4 junior guard, is averaging 24.3 points per game for the Terriers (8-4).
The victory was Wofford’s first in 24 tries against a team ranked in the top 25.
Buddy Collings
Montverde bags two titles
National title contender Montverde Academy (13-0) followed up its boys basketball tournament win in China by steamrolling through the Iolani Classic in Hawaii with four bracket wins this week.
In the Eagles’ lone tight game in Honolulu, Fairfax (8-2) of Los Angeles trimmed a 20-point deficit to four in the closing minutes before falling 79-70 in a semifinal on Tuesday.
Montverde’s R.J. Barrett had 40- and 33-point games and was named tournament MVP.
The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the Fab 50, take a holiday break and then go to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Beach Ball Classic, Wednesday-Saturday of next week.
Buddy Collings
Wrestling rivals clash again
District rivals Winter Springs and Hagerty have met in events every weekend so far this season and they'll see each other again today and Saturday at the Bill Scott Memorial Holiday Tournament at Lyman.
Winter Springs is ranked fifth in the state in 3A, one spot ahead of the Huskies. The Bears came out on top at the Clash of the Titans in the opening week and the Seminole County squads split against each other in dual meet matches the past two weeks.
They'll be joined by other teams in the area with two teams ranked in the Sentinel's state top 10 rankings in Miami Columbus and Tampa Prep also wrestling at Lyman.
The tournament begins at 3 p.m. and will run all day Saturday with finals starting at 7 p.m.
Brant Parsons
Quick hits
It’s official that the Jan. 11 Orlando Christian Prep at Montverde basketball game will be nationally-televised live by ESPN2. Tipoff time is 5:30 p.m.
Undefeated Oviedo (9-0), one of the surprise teams in the area, hosts Lake Mary tonight at 7:30. The Lions will be in the Ocoee Great Eight tournament next Thursday through Saturday. Orange City University running back Lorenzo Lingard was runner-up in voting for the Florida Dairy Farmer’s Mr. Football award. Senior QB Bryce Carpenter, who ran and passed for 4,327 yards and 64 touchdowns for 7A state champ Venice (14-1) won the player of the year honor.
John Peacock of Venice was named Florida Dairy Farmers football coach of the year. Rodney Wells of 8A champ Dr. Phillips was fourth in that voting.
Buddy Collings