OCP stings SLAM in FHSAA 2A semi
LAKELAND — For the seventh consecutive season, Orlando Christian Prep is heading to the FHSAA Class 2A boys basketball state championship game after rolling to a 76-55 semifinal win against Tampa SLAM on Wednesday night.
The victory sets up the 10-time champ Warriors (25-4) to play South Florida power Sagemont Prep (24-6) for the title for the third consecutive season Thursday at RP Funding Center. Game time is 8 p.m.
Sagemont used its size advantage to win the opening semifinal 59-45 over Impact Christian (18-11) of Jacksonville.
OCP beat the Lions 66-49 in the 2022 final. Last year Sagemont made 12 3-pointers and edged the Warriors 67-66 on a free throw in the final second to end OCP’s three-year streak of titles.
“We’ve got to control the paint and limit their dribble penetration,” OCP senior Isaiah Brown said of the key to success against Sagemont.
OCP’s defense was certainly dialed in defensively against Tampa SLAM (23-8). The Warriors held the Spartans to 15.4% accuracy on field goals (4 of 26) in the first half while OCP made 50% of its shots to take control.
The Warriors led 43-18 midway through the third quarter but finished that period with a sloppy stretch that allowed SLAM to cut the deficit to 48-41 with a basket on the first possession of the fourth. A collapse could have spoiled OCP’s streak of semifinal success, but Brown made sure that wouldn’t happen by getting his team back on track with consecutive scores — including a tomahawk dunk. That sparked a 16-2 run that put the game to bed.
“We kind of slacked off and let them get the momentum,” Brown said. “Fourth quarter we regrouped as a team. We finished it out.”
All five OCP starters scored in double figures, with Darius Washington III leading the way with 16 points and 7 rebounds. He was aggressive early on dribble drives.
“I feel like I’m one of the factors for us winning the state championship,” Washington said. “I picked up the energy and everybody else did the same.”
Brown, a UF signee, had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and took 2 charges.
Josh Theus scored 13 points and Ameer Ramadan added 12 points and 4 assists.
“These guys buy into defense and they play for each other,” OCP coach Treig Burke said. “I’m blessed to coach them.”
Burke joined the 200-win club with a region quarterfinal victory this postseason. His record stands at 204-33 across eight seasons — an average of 25 victories per year.
OCP ran its state semifinal record to 13-2. The Warriors are 10-3 in championship games.
Play continued with four 3A semifinal games on Wednesday. That includes Windermere Prep (23-7) vs. Providence School (24-5) of Jacksonville in a 7 p.m. boys game.
Class 1A semifinals (boys and girls) are followed by 3A finals on Friday. The 1A and 4A championship games are Saturday.
The state tournaments for larger schools including, 5A and 6A, will be played next week, starting March 6 in Lakeland.