UHS Cougars set program record
The University High boys basketball team has just eight players on its varsity roster and played some games with just five available due to injuries. But that didn’t stop the Cougars from achieving the first 20-win campaign in program history.
University improved to 20-5 with a 73-57 victory over host Hagerty (19-8) in a Class 7A District 4 semifinal on Thursday night. That broke the wins record set by the Cougars’ 19-9 district title team of 2017-18.
University, the top seed in the tournament, will take on second seed Winter Park (16-10) in tonight’s district final at 6.
“It’s really a credit to the kids that I’m coaching,” said David Bailey, a veteran best known for his coaching stint at Winter Park, which included backto-back state championships led by Austin Rivers (2011 and 2012).
Bailey is in his second season at UHS and said his team of four seniors and four juniors has been resilient and focused.
“They did a good job of handling it when we were missing guys. The next guy was ready to play,” Bailey said.
University has won just two boys basketball district titles since opening in 1980. The first came in 2013. Bailey is hoping to add a third and then go for even more. The Cougars are one of the contenders in the wide-open race to win the Region 1 title and a spot in the FHSAA final four.
District 2 favorite Sanford Seminole (20-6) is the region’s top-ranked team, followed by a pack that includes 7A-3 top seed Evans (16-9), Lake Brantley (19-7), Ocoee (19-8) and University.
“There’s no clear cut favorite and I’m sure they all want to win the region,” Bailey said. “You never know how many times you’re going to get this opportunity.”
Bailey is closing in on 400 wins with a career record of 387-272. He was 159-59 in seven seasons at Winter Park and also was head coach at Orlando Lutheran, Cypress Creek and Timber Creek.
Mo Kamara, a 6-foot-8 junior averaging 19 points per game, scored 27 in the win vs. Hagerty. Junior guards Jalen Pringle and Hudson Maurer each added 11.
Braylen Jones, a senior averaging 7.1 points, missed the first month of play. Then senior Noah Nazario (11.7 ppg.) and junior Levi Hubbard (7.7 ppg.) both were sidelined — all due to ankle injuries. They are all back.
In the state’s strongest district (7A-5), Olympia (18-8) was beaten 72-51 by Windermere (19-7) in a semifinal. The Wolverines, No. 7 in the 7A power rankings, play today at 7 p.m. final at Olympia against No. 3 Oak Ridge (22-3), which piled on points as the top seed in a 99-64 win against fourth seed Dr. Phillips.
All three of those Region 2 powers are certain to move on to Thursday’s regional quarterfinal round. Four district champions and four additional at-large teams, based on Florida High School Athletic Association power rankings, will populate region brackets to be announced Sunday at 2 p.m. on the FHSAA YouTube channel.
Josiah Shackelford scored 25 points and Seminole scored coach Sylvester Wynn’s 500th career victory with its 72-49 semifinal win over DeLand in 7A-2. That includes wins as the ‘Noles girls basketball head coach.
Tre DuBois went 9-for-9 at the free throw line and totaled 32 points as Evans won 65-53 against Apopka in 7A-3.
St. Cloud (19-6), a Cinderella team, lost 57-47 to tradition-rich Bartow (18-9) in a 6A-7 semifinal and will have to wait until Sunday to know for certain if its season extends into next week.
Here are today’s district finals involving Orlando area teams:
7A District 2
No. 2 Lake Mary (14-12) at No. 1 Seminole (20-6), 7 p.m.
Class 7A District 3
No. 3 Ocoee (19-8) at No. 1 Evans (16-9), 6 p.m.
Class 7A District 4
At Hagerty High School, 6 p.m. No. 1 University (20-5) vs. No. 2 Winter Park (16-10)
Class 7A District 5
At Olympia High School
No. 1 Oak Ridge (22-3) vs. No. 3 Windermere (19-7), 7 p.m.
Class 7A District 6
At Lake Nona High School, 6 p.m. No. 1 Harmony (21-5) vs. No. 3 Osceola (13-11)
Class 6A District 5
At New Smyrna Beach High School, 6 p.m.
No. 1 Oviedo (22-4) vs. No. 2 Lake Howell (15-9)
Class 6A District 6
No. 2 East River (16-9) at No. 1 Edgewater (18-7), 7:30
Class 5A District 4
At Seabreeze High School
No. 3 St. Augustine (14-10) vs. No. 1 Mainland (18-6)
Class 5A District 5
No. 2 Ocala Vanguard (15-10) at No. 1 Leesburg (15-4)
Class 5A District 7
No. 3 Gateway (11-11) at No. 1 Jones (11-13), 7 p.m.
Class 4A District 6
No. 2 Villages (16-11) at No 1 Eustis (21-4)
Class 4A District 7
No. 2 Discovery (20-5) at No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (22-3), 7 p.m.
Class 3A District 4
No. 2 Father Lopez (19-5) at No. 1 Master’s Academy (16-9), 7 p.m.
Class 3A District 6
No. 2 First Academy (15-11) at No. 1 Windermere Prep (19-7), 7 p.m.
Class 2A District 6
No. 2 Halifax (22-4) at No. 1 Mount Dora Christian (14-12)
Class 2A District 7
No. 2 Faith Christian (16-10) at No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep (20-4), 7 p.m.
Class 2A District 8
No. 2 Legacy (14-9) at No. 1 Victory Christian (22-4)
Buddy Collings can be reached at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.