Margin of error thin in District 3
Evenly-matched districts sometimes get a bad rap because no one team dominates the rest.
That’s not the issue in the Class 7A, District 3 boys basketball circuit.
The Florida High School Athletic Association power rankings list four District 3 teams in the top 10 of 7A, led by Dr. Phillips at No. 2. And this week proved that No. 6 Olympia, No. 8 West Orange and No. 9 Apopka will also have a say in who earns the two region playoff berths that will be available and hotly contested in what has long been labeled the “District of Death.”
And those aren’t the only dangerous teams in what is, based on the power ratings, easily the deepest district in the large-school classification. Evans has spent most of the season alongside the top four in the Sentinel Super 16 area rankings and Ocoee and Lake Brantley are capable of pulling off a shocker.
“Everybody in our district is good,” said Olympia coach Rob Gordon, whose team will host the district tournament the week of Feb. 8-12.
West Orange (11-5, 3-1 in district play) proved just how crazy the league is when it upended the area’s third-ranked team, Dr. Phillips, in a 48-47 thriller Tuesday to mark its 10th consecutive victory.
Mike McCalister, one of the area’s top seniors, had 20 points and 10 rebounds in that victory, while Jack Main scored 11 and made a difference at the defensive end by taking four charges.
But one night later the Warriors ran into another district rival on a roll and was beaten 57-42 by Olympia (13-4, 3-0). The Titans led by as many as 22 points in the Wednesday night home game.
Olympia took control with an 18-3 run to close the first half. Jacari White, a senior, and sophomore Edgerrin “Jizzle” James, the son of former NFL running back Edgerrin James, carried the scoring, each delivering 20 points.
Gordon said James and White are battletested, as is senior standout Tyeree Brian.
“Even though [James is] young in age, he’s got a lot of experience under his belt,” the Olympia coach said. “Jacari is playing like his basketball life is on the line. He just loves the game.”
James scored 16 in the first half, and White added 14 points in that span. White also made the lead 22 with a 3-pointer to start the second half.
James said that White, who missed last season due to injury, opens up the offense.
“All he needs is to make one shot,” James said. “Once he’s in rhythm, he’s unstoppable.”
Gordon said the West Orange game put the whole district in perspective. He said the victory also should give his team confidence.
“It proves we can play with the best,” Gordon said. “That’s what I want our kids to understand and recognize: It’s an expectation to win this year.
“We’re not hoping to win any longer.”