Oak Ridge High School in Orlando once again hosted the Breast Cancer Awareness Classic this past weekend. By drawing programs with both a pedigree of success and rosters with players having college potential, this has become an early season marquee event.
St. Petersburg Lakewood vs. Jacksonville Potter’s House Academy
Lakewood jumped out fast in this one. Led by 6’5 senior Jalen White, the Spartans got out to a 16-0 lead before Potter’s House got on the board with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. The second quarter found Potter’s House playing evenly with Lakewood, but that only meant that the Spartans would hold a fourteen point lead at the half at 31-17.
Midway thru the third period and down fifteen, Potter’s House extended their defense. This worked as Potter’s House finished the quarter on a 13-8 run to get within ten at 46-36 heading into the final period. The run continued to open up the fourth and Lakewood called a time out with a little more than six minutes left and clinging to a four point 46-42 lead. However, that was as close as the Lions would get. Lakewood came out of the time out with four straight points to re-take control. The Spartans would go on to win by nine, 63-54.
Lakewood was led by White’s 25 points. Oteman Delancey, a 6’3 sophomore, added 12 points while 6’9 junior Jamille Reynolds produced 10 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
Potter’s House was paced by 6’0 senior Milan Harrison and his 14 points. Marsei Caston, a 6’2 senior, added 12 points while 6’4 junior Mayoum Mayoum tallied 10 points.
Tampa Catholic vs. Kissimmee Central Pointe
The contest got off to a rough start for Tampa Catholic as turnovers led to points for Central Pointe, given them a 15-6 lead midway thru the first quarter. TC righted the ship after a timeout and drew within four at 19-15 going into the second. In that second period, Tampa Catholic would threaten but could never tie or take a lead. At the half, they were no closer to Central Pointe, down four at 33-29.
Things changed for Tampa Catholic in the third period. An 8-4 run tied the game at 37 at the 5:30 mark and one minute later, TC had a lead of 41-37, forcing Central Pointe to call a timeout. The teams would play evenly from there and with one period left to play Tampa Catholic was up 47-44. In the fourth, TC led by five with four minutes left to play at 56-51. Central Pointe responded and tied the game at 56 with just under two minutes to play. On TC’s next possession, Central Pointe forced a jump ball. The possession arrow gave the ball to Central Pointe. TC was now forced to foul to get the ball back. However, they only had one team foul. Central Pointe was able to run off some clock and Tampa Catholic was finally able to put a Central Pointe player on the line with twenty seconds remaining. TC caught a break and the front end of the one-and-one missed, giving Tampa Catholic a chance to tie or win. A mid-range jumper was off the mark before time expired and Central Pointe wins a tight one, 58-56.
Luis Colon, a 6’2 junior, led Central Pointe with 21 points. Both 6’0 junior Cesar Barrios and 6’6 junior Harry Sosa finished with nine points.
For Tampa Catholic, 6’8 junior Johnni Broome paced the way with 16 points while 6’4 junior Kobe Knox added 15 and 6’7 junior Isaiah Elmore tallied 14 points.
Orlando Jones vs. Orlando West Oaks Academy
West Oaks got off to a quick start, leading 10-0 before Jones called a time out with 1:37 left in the opening period. The remainder of the quarter would be fast and furious and Jones was down, 17-8, heading into the second quarter. West Oaks opened up a fourteen point 29-15 lead midway thru the period, but Jones once again finished strong, cutting the margin to seven at 35-28 at the break.
Midway thru the third, West Oaks was up six, 44-38. By the time the quarter ended, West Oaks’ lead was down to three at 50-47. Jones tied the game at 50 on their first possession of the final period after a three from 6’6 senior Kenan Blackshear. West Oaks answered with back-to-back threes and looked to have re-asserted control of the contest. However, Jones didn’t quit and midway thru the quarter West Oaks was only up one at 57-56. With one minute to play in the contest, the score was tied at sixty. Jones had possession of the basketball but West Oaks tipped the ball away, gained possession, and headed the other way with a three on none advantage with a sure basket and two point lead to follow. However, that sure basket vanished due to an unforced turnover. Now Jones had the last possession of regulation. The Tigers drew a foul with fourteen seconds left but converted just one of two free throws. West Oaks was unable to get a clean look at the basket and Jones pulled an early season upset to win by one, 61-60.
Jones was paced by Blackshear’s 29 points. He was the only Tiger in double figures but 6’6 senior Kaijuan Felton added nine points.
For West Oaks, 6’4 junior Selton Miguel had 15 points while 6’2 senior Tyrell Jones added 11 points and 6’1 sophomore A.J. Neal tallied 10 points.
Orlando Oak Ridge vs. Kissimmee Osceola
These two teams have played some incredible games the past couple of years with the winner reaching the final four. This year however Osceola is without 6’9 Omar Payne. While the thinking is that they would be at a big disadvantage, Osceola played eventual national #2 University School out of Fort Lauderdale last season on a neutral court without Payne and lost by just four points. Oak Ridge was playing without the services of Niven Glover, who sat out the game with a lower-extremities injury.
Both the first and second quarters saw several lead changes each. Late in the second quarter, Osceola seniors Isaiah Palermo and Jose Marte both picked up their second fouls. Oak Ridge was able to take advantage and grab a 28-24 lead heading into the break.
The final two quarters of the contest were all Oak Ridge. The Pioneers jumped out to a 43-31 lead midway thru the third quarter and never looked back. Osceola found uncontested shots hard to come by. Oak Ridge would eventually roll on to an impressive 71-51 win. A possible re-match awaits in the regional semi-finals in February.
Oak Ridge was led by 6’6 senior Kaleb Coleman with 22 points. 6’8 senior C.J. Walker added 12 points to go along with 13 rebounds while 6’1 sophomore guard Jalen Smith tallied 11 points.
For the Kowboys of Osceola, both Isaiah Palermo and Jeremiah Palermo each contributed 14 points. Marte finished with 12 points.