OCP rides win streak and No. 1 ranking into Rotary Tip-Off
Orlando Christian Prep finds itself in familiar territory atop the first Orlando Sentinel Super 16 boys basketball rankings for the 2021-22 season.
But the ground is a bit shaky after an opening week of play saw the Warriors look less than dominant and Lake Highland Prep score a seismic upset against nationally ranked Dr. Phillips.
Two-time defending Class 2A state champ OCP won its season opener 69-59 against Wekiva as part of Apopka’s Earl Graham Metro vs. Florida Challenge, but the scrappy Mustangs made sure it wasn’t a blowout.
DP, which was listed as the top team for all seven FHSAA classifications in MaxPreps’ preseason Florida rankings, also opened in Apopka and fell victim to Lake Highland Prep and 6-foot-5 Ohio State signee Brice Sensabaugh. The big-bodied guard poured in 39 points and made the game-winning 3-point shot with time running out in a 61-60 victory.
DP’s descent made it easy to rank OCP at No. 1 in the Orlando area rankings, but there will be nothing easy about Week 2 for the Warriors. OCP plays fourth-ranked Olympia in game two of this week’s Rotary Tip-Off tournament at Winter Park. Those are the two highest-ranked teams in the eight-team field.
No. 6 Central Florida Christian Academy, No. 9 Sanford Seminole and No. 11 Edgewater are on the other side of the backet and play Thursday quarterfinals.
Rotary admission is $5 or two cans of food for the needy.
OCP is 57-2 over three seasons. The defeats, both in December 2019, were a 55-51 loss to Daytona Beach Mainland in a Rotary semifinal game and a 44-42 loss to nationally ranked St. Benedict’s Prep of New Jersey in a game played a few weeks later in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to the Rotary this week Oak Ridge hosts its five-game Breast Cancer Awareness Classic on Saturday. Lake Highland has another marquee matchup in that event, taking on No. 7 Windermere High in a 6:30 p.m. game that will showcase Sensabaugh and Wolverines junior Sean Stewart, a 6-8 junior high-major prospect.
1 . Orlando Christian Prep (1 -0 )
Buzz: Warriors, winners of 48 consecutive games, should play three games in four nights at Rotary Tip-Off tournament.
2 . Lake Highland Prep (1 -0 )
Buzz: Highlanders play Orlando University (0-1) at home Wednesday and go to Bishop Moore on Friday.
3 . Dr. Phillips (1 -1 )
Buzz: Bounced back to win 79-69 against Tri-Cities (2-1) of Georgia on Saturday. At Ocoee on Wednesday.
4 . Olympia (1 -0 )
Buzz: Titans took perennial power Bartow apart in 77-27 season-opening win at Metro vs. Florida event.
5 . Oak Ridge (2 -0 )
Buzz: Pioneers, coming off two romps, play Evans on Saturday night as host of Breast Cancer Awareness Classic.
6 . Central Florida Christian Academy(1-0)
Buzz: Ranked No. 2 in 2A behind OCP by SourceHoops. Region rivals could meet in Rotary Tip-Off title game.
7. Windermere (1 -0 )
Buzz: Wolverines begin a challenging December schedule at Wekiva (0-1) on Wednesday.
8 . Windermere Prep (2 -0 )
Buzz: Jayden Williams, Eduardo Placer and ZZ Clark are going to put up a lot of points. Lakers host Trinity Prep on Wednesday.
9. Seminole (1-0)
Buzz: ’Noles add football guys to the mix this week. Play Winter Park (1-0) in Thursday Rotary Tip-Off quarterfinal.
1 0 . Apopka (2 -0 )
Buzz: Blue Darters are buoyed by emergence of Sam Alexis (6-8, Sr.), one of the most improved players in the area.
11.Evans(0-1)
Buzz: Trojans played Windermere Prep tough in Metro vs. Florida. Challenge. Lake Brantley (1-0) at home on Tuesday.
1 2 . Kissimmee Osceola (0 -0 )
Buzz: Kowboys, with coach Steve Mason back at the helm, open at home Tuesday vs. Colonial (1-0).
1 3 . Edgewater (0 -1 )
Buzz: Lost to Seminole without several football players. Eagles host Ocoee (1-2) Tuesday, then go to Rotary Tip-Off.
1 4 . Trinity Prep (2 -0 )
Buzz: Saints, winners of two close games, play a 2-0 Lake Howell team on Wednesday night.
1 5 . Oviedo (2 -0 *)
Buzz: Dawson Barr (6-4, Jr.) averaging 22 points per game. Lions have three road trips this week.
1 6 . Hagerty (1 -0 )
Buzz: Jah Nze is closing in on 2,000points for his career and has never looked better physically.
(*denotes a team with a Monday game)