Rob Gordon and the Olympia boys basketball program he shepherds don’t shy away from the fact that, despite some of the teams the program has fielded over the years — nationally ranked teams, in some instances — the Titans have never won a district title.
This year’s team will get a chance, though, after the second-seeded Titans defeated third-seeded West Orange 70-54 in a Class 7A District 3 semifinal game at home on Wednesday night.
Olympia (20-5), which led the Warriors by as many as 21 points, will now host rival Dr. Phillips (18-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday in the district final.
And it will be against the top-seeded Panthers — who beat Apopka 52-44 earlier in the night — that Gordon’s squad will face in their quest to accomplish a milestone for the program.
“You can see it on our board. There’s not a single year for a district championship,” Gordon said, pointing to the banners for each sport hanging at the Titans’ campus gym. “[The kids are] very aware of that.”
The Titans led by seven points at halftime and rode strong performances by sophomore E.J. “Jizzle” James (23 points) and seniors Jacari White (18 points) and Tyeree Bryan (15 points) to create a gap too large to overcome.
West Orange (18-6) was led by three players in double digits: Marcus Allen (19 points), Michael McCalister (13 points) and Joanes Polynice Jr. (12 points).
With the FHSAA reverting to its prior format of advancing only district champions and runners-up to the region playoffs, the “District of Death” final-four round took on an added meaning. The district entered the week with four teams ranked in the top 10 of Class 7A.
Finalists in all districts will advance to play region quarterfinal games next Thursday, Feb. 18. Friday’s winners will be at home as district champions against runners-up from adjacent districts.
The pressure was not lost on Dr. Phillips coach Ben Witherspoon, whose Panthers found themselves trailing Apopka by one early in the fourth quarter before a nine-point run set the momentum back in their favor for good. His underclassmen-heavy squad responded, rattling off a nine-point swing that defined the final quarter and elevated the Panthers into the region playoffs.
“During that time we tightened up. We were able to get a couple of baskets and just get some separation,” Witherspoon said. “Our district is great. It’s unfair that Apopka isn’t going to continue playing. We don’t take anything for granted.”
Dr. Phillips got a game-high 23 points out of junior guard Denzel Aberdeen to go along with 13 points and plenty of rebounds from 6-foot-10 sophomore Ernest Udeh Jr.
Udeh came alive for the Panthers down the stretch, including a thunderous put-back dunk during the pivotal 9-0 run for the Panthers, who are ranked second in 7A behind Oak Ridge in the FHSAA power ratings.
“[Udeh] struggled early and was down on himself,” Witherspoon said. “He came out and just made big plays for us in the end. We had to have him do that.”
Senior guard John Latimer III led the spirited push from the Blue Darters with a team-high 22 points, including the basket that put his team ahead early in the fourth quarter.
Apopka finished with a record of 15-7.
Favorites fall: The area’s two highest-ranked Class 3A teams were knocked out of the District 4 tournament with homecourt losses on Wednesday.
Windermere Prep, the top seed, played without five players due to COVID-19 issues and lost 54-52 to Trinity Prep. Second seed The Master’s Academy was eliminated by The First Academy, 77-72.
Javon Bennett scored 19 points, including the two game-winning free throws in the closing seconds. Laziz Talipov added 17 points for Trinity Prep (7-7), which is on a five-game winning streak going into Friday’s district final, which will be played at TFA (13-8).
Elijah Hulsewe, Windermere Prep’s 6-11 senior center, had 16 points, 18 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in the loss for the Lakers (16-6).
Windermere Prep was without its two leading scorers, brothers Zavien Williams and Jayden Williams, and three other role players.
Sean Johnson scored 28 points in TFA’s victory.
Eduardo Placer scored 32 for Master’s (17-5), which saw an 11-game win streak snapped.
Elsewhere: Malike Raines poured in 30 points to lead third seed Lake Mary (11-9) to an 80-75 win against No. 2 Spruce Creek (11-7) in a 7A-2 semifinal.
The Rams (11-9) will host Friday’s final against top-seed Seminole (13-7), which won 85-57 against Ocala West Port. Johah Pierce had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the ‘Noles.
All area district finals are Friday night.
Class 2A No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep (21-0) plays Kissimmee’s City of Life (24-2) in Friday’s 2A-11 final at Victory Christian in Lakeland. Game time is 7 p.m.
Boone (17-9) scored a 70-52 homecourt win against Lake Nona (11-9) in a 7A-5 semifinal. The Braves host top-ranked Oak Ridge (19-2) in Friday’s final.
Windermere (15-5), the No. 3-rated team in 7A behind Oak Ridge and Dr. Phillips, cruised into the District 6 final with a 72-28 romp past East Ridge (11-11). The Wolverines will be home Friday against Kissimmee Osceola (13-7), which had a much tougher task before winning 48-45 against Ridge Community (13-5).
Tournament host Oviedo (14-9) won 48-37 over Winter Park (12-13) in 7A-4. The Lions will be home for the final against top seed Orlando University (15-7), which won 50-38 against Hagerty (13-14) in Wednesday’s second semifinal.
Jah Quinones had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead Lake Highland Prep to a 52-34 win over Orlando rival Bishop Moore (11-10) in 4A-7. The Highlanders will host Friday’s final against Eustis (9-10), which won 51-48 at Umatilla (12-7).
Jones (10-12) posted a 62-40 win against a Lecanto team that was 20-3 in a 5A-5 semifinal at Ocala Vanguard. Top seed Leesburg (11-4) played later against Lake Minneola (11-15).
Kissimmee Gateway (10-2) pulled out a 51-45 overtime win against Eau Gallie (14-11) in 5A-7 game at Palm Bay Heritage.
Central Florida Christian Academy (18-7) and Mount Dora Christian Academy (20-5) will meet in the 2A-10 final at MDCA.
CFCA, the third-ranked team in 2A, saw five players score 12 or more points in an 86-42 win against Legacy Charter (6-7).
Mount Dora Christian won 71-45 over Foundation Academy with Reggie Virgil scoring 16 points and Rodney Bryant and Kevin Frederick adding 14 apiece.
Edgewater saw a 12-10 season end with a 65-60 homecourt loss to visiting Winter Haven (8-8) in Class 6A.
This story was first published at OrlandoSentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings contributed to this report. He can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
