Osceola vs. Oak Ridge take II
A boys basketball showdown that was a year in the making tips off at 7 p.m. tonight when defending state champion Kissimmee Osceola makes a short trip to Orlando to play as an underdog in the Class 9A, Region 2 championship game against nationally-ranked Oak Ridge.
Both schools made pre-sell tickets available and the game could sell out the 2,100-seat Oak Ridge gym as late-arrivers look to squeeze in.
A year ago, Osceola pulled out a 63-60 home win against Oak Ridge on the way to its second state championship — and first in 34 years.
This time the Pioneers are host but the stakes are the same. The winner advances to next week’s final four in Lakeland.
“Our whole goal is to win states,” said Oak Ridge coach Steve Reece, who was a spectator for last season’s game. “We knew, if you’re going to win states, you’re going to see Osceola.”
Oak Ridge, a district champ six times in nine seasons since 2012 but never a state champ, released former interim coach O’Neil Lubin last spring, hired Reece, and gained new players as it ramped up for a run at history.
The Pioneers lost their top player from last season, Mike Devoe, to Montverde Academy. But Texas A&M recruit Antwann Jones, a 6-foot-6 senior, was reinstated after missing the playoffs last season, and Oak Ridge added dynamic 6-7 forward and LSU recruit Emmitt Williams and former Orlando Christian Prep point guard Damon Harge (Texas Southern) via transfer.
They top a roster that has more major college prospects than you can fit into a starting lineup. The list includes Rob Perry (6-4, Sr.), Niven Glover (6-4, Jr.), Kaleb Coleman (6-7, Jr.) and Emmanuel Adeodyin (6-3, Jr.).
“You could take their second five and have a 20-win season,” Osceola coach Nate Alexander said.
The Pioneers opened the season as a national top 20 team and stayed there with a 7-3 record against out-of-state powers.
Osceola has a competitive crew that doesn’t figure to back down. The Kowboys graduated key seniors Tevin Florent, Brady Fernandes and Frankie Fabian from their 30-2 title team. That still left a nucleus led by three juniors who played major roles: 6-9 Omar Payne, mighty mite point guard Josh Marte and versatile wing Isaiah Palermo.
Osceola also upgraded its schedule. The Kowboys lost three times to out-of-state teams at tournaments and in neutral court games against 2A state favorite Miami Christian and to national No. 3 Fort Lauderdale University 66-62.
Elsewhere, one Seminole High streak will end when the Seminoles host West Orange in the 9A, Region 1 final. The ‘Noles are 0-3 all-time vs. Orange County in region play, losing to Bishop Moore (1966), Evans (1984) and Winter Park (2016). But they have won 16 consecutive games this season.
Here are tonight’s region finals:
Seminole, a district champ for the first time in 23 years, shoots for its first region title and final four trip since 1980. West Orange has made its deepest run since its 2012 region runner-up showing.
Oak Ridge is 20-1 against Florida foes and won its four previous postseason games by an average of 38 points. Osceola, the reigning 9A champ, is 9-1 in region play dating to its 2015 state runner-up finish. Edgewater, seeking its tenth final four berth and third state championship, is 10-1 in region play over five seasons. That includes beating the Blue Devils 64-63 in 2015 and 88-85 in 2014. Mainland, a district runner-up, has won 10 of its past 11 games and is a win away from reaching the final four for the first time since it won state championships in 1995, 1996 and 1998.
Defending 6A champ Leesburg takes a 23-game win streak to South Florida. Stranahan’s talented group of sophomores includes Chayse Culpepper, son of former UCF and NFL QB Daunte Culpepper.