Top seeds roll as state matchups set
Top regional seeds Orlando Christian Prep and Lake Highland Prep overwhelmed their opponents in state quarterfinals play Friday night.
It was a different story for Dr. Phillips, Sanford Seminole and Jones. Those three teams had tougher times but also prevailed to punch their tickets for the FHSAA final four tournaments, which tip off Wednesday in Lakeland.
Dr. Phillips (25-5), ranked No. 1 across all seven Florida classifications, won 42-39 against Metro Conference West Division rival Windermere (21-7) in a sold-out grind of a game.
It wasn’t over until Windermere senior Jeremy Torres, who made four 3-pointers, missed a desperation try from near midcourt.
Riley Kugel, a 6-foot-5 senior, led DP with 17 points. Ernest Udeh Jr., a 6-10 senior, had nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in a matchup with Windermere’s junior Duke commit, and 6-8 Sean Stewart, had 10 points and eight rebounds.
“All five guys on our team can score, and that’s the same for their team,” Udeh said. “Any good team can score. Everything tonight was about defense.”
The third close win in three games versus the Wolverines sends defending state champ Dr. Phillips back to the RP Funding Center for a Friday afternoon semifinal against Region 1 champ Sanford Seminole (19-8).
In other region finals: 7A-1 - Two-sport star shines: UCF football signed Ja’Cari Henderson scored 18 points to lead Seminole in its win against visiting Oak Ridge.
“He was elite out there tonight,” Seminoles coach Sylvester Wynn said.
Ucheenna Kellman-Nicholes added 15 points for Seminole. Demari Henderson, Ja’cari’s twin brother and also a UCF football recruit, scored 12 but appeared to suffer some sort of foot injury in the late going.
Fabio Basili wrapped up his Oak Ridge career with 27 points, including five 3-pointers.
7A-3 - Trojans oust Osceola: Calvin Simmons and Marvin Golf combined for 47 points as Lake Worth defeated host Osceola 75-57 in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.
No more than six points separated the teams through three quarters and Osceola took a 55-53 lead into the final period.
That turned into a nightmare for the Kowboys (21-6) as the Trojans (21-3) scored 20 unanswered points to start the period.
“We rimmed out a couple of 3-pointers early in the period, they got some momentum and we just couldn’t take it back,” Osceola coach Steve Mason said.
Goff, a 6-4 junior, had 27 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
5A-2 - Tigers tame King: Jones (20-7) earned its first state tournament trip in 12 years by holding off a second-half comeback by
Tampa King for a 49-47 win at home.
In the opening quarter, Jones guard Rodricco Henderson stole the ball four times and forced a travel by the Lions (19-11).
Jalon Cole made three 3-pointers in the first quarter and Calvin Liptrot finished with 14 points for the Tigers, who play a semifinal Thursday afternoon.
4A-2 - Highlanders halt streak: Ohio State recruit Brice Sensabaugh scored a career-high 43 points as host Lake Highland ended Satellite’s 17-game winning streak with a decisive 76-56 victory against the Scorpions (26-3).
Sensabaugh was 6 of 9 on 3-point shots and added eight rebounds, four steals and three assists.
The degree of difficulty for the Highlanders (25-3) ramps up as Lake Highland’s Thursday noon semifinal foe is Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (22-2), the top FHSAA state title contender in the national rankings.
“They know we need to be really good,” LHP coach Ben Fratrik said of the final four challenges for his players.
2A-2 - OCP stifles CFCA:
Orlando Christian Prep used sticky defense to set the tone for a 65-50 win against 2A No. 2 Central Florida Christian Academy.
The Warriors (24-4) gave up a 3-pointer in the first 30 seconds and a trey at the first-quarter buzzer but blanked the Eagles (24-5) between those shots and throughout the second quarter to build a 32-6 halftime lead.
Ven-Allen Lubin, a 6-8 Notre Dame signee, led OCP with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
“When we play like that on defense, it just snowballs and we can do so many things,” OCP coach Treig Burke said.
The Warriors will look to defend back-to-back state titles in a Wednesday morning semifinal and Saturday morning championship game.
Jonathan Alfano, S.T. Cardinal, Steve Gorches, Lynn Ramsey, J. Daniel Pearson contributed to this report with game coverage.
State schedule Class 7A Friday semifinals
Dr. Phillips (25-5) vs. Seminole (19-8), 12:30p.m. Miami Columbus (27-2) vs.
Lake Worth (21-3), 2:30
Saturday
Championship game, 8
Class 5A
Thursday semifinals
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (25-3) Vs. Pensacola Pine Forest (23-6), 2p.m. St. Petersburg (24-5) vs. Jones (20-7), 4
Saturday
Championship game, 3
Class 4A
Thursday semifinals
Jacksonville Jackson (28-2) vs.
St. Petersburg Gibbs (21-8), 10a.m. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (22-2) vs. Lake Highland Prep (25-3), noon Saturday
Championship game, 12:30p.m. Class 2A
Wednesday semifinals
Orlando Christian Prep (24-4) vs. Naples First Baptist (26-2), 10a.m. Jacksonville NFEI (24-7) vs. Sagemont (24-6), noon Saturday
Championship game, 10a.m.
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel. com.