By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Two boys basketball races were determined last week when Gateway clinched the Orange Belt Conference championship and the No. 1 seed at next month’s 7A District 5 tournament.

The Panthers, 15-6, beat Harmony, 71-59,  Saturday to extend its conference record to 6-0. It was the fifth OBC title the Panthers have won since 2004. The Panthers also downed St. Cloud, 54-43, Monday.

Osceola beat Gateway Friday, 51-43, at the Kowboys gym in the final regular season district game for both teams. Osceola, 13-7, tied Gateway at 8-2 in the district, but Gateway will earn the No. 1 seed based on a tiebreaker. Osceola is the No. 2 seed and, like Gateway, will have a first-round bye when the tournament begins in two weeks. East Ridge, Poinciana, Lake Minneola and Liberty round out the district standings.

The 7A-5 tournament will be a shootout, both coaches said.

“We hung on to the top seed despite a loss to those Kowboys, but it’s going to be a challenge,” Panthers Coach Bob Baker said.

David Jerome scored 29 points and Felix Gonzalez scored 24 against Harmony Saturday. Jerome scored 22 and Gonzalez had 18 against St. Cloud, 9-11. Jamal Demetrius had 16 for the Bulldogs.

Osceola’s Michael Sanchez and Stanley Turk each scored 12 in the Kowboys’ win Friday in a game that attracted about 1,200 fans to the OHS gym.

The Panthers trailed most of the way and could pull no closer than four points in the second half as Alain Allard (8), Tre’shaun Perry (8) and Bobby Young (5) hit key shots down the stretch for the Kowboys.

Gonzalez had 14 for Gateway.

Both teams stay busy this week. Gateway hosts Colonial today at 7:30 p.m. and wraps up the season at the Lyman High Greyhound Invitational next week.

Osceola, after a trip to Dr. Phillips Tuesday, hosts Cypress Creek at 7:30 p.m. Friday before games at St. Cloud and Haines City next week.

Osceola has had an up and down month. While playing  much better in its district, it lost at Dr. Phillips, 74-39, Tuesday, making five lopsided losses the team has suffered in the last month including two against Class 5A No. 1 Lake Wales and another at Class A Orlando Christian Prep, a final four team last season.

“I just told the guys not to worry about it, that we needed to stick with it and get better,” Kowboys Coach Nate Alexander said. “For the most part, it seems to be working out OK. I I guess we’ll know for sure pretty soon.”

Celebration stopped Liberty, 61-48, Monday as Johnny Victor scored 14 and Romelo Banks had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Storm, 7-11.

Liberty, 3-15, got 13 points from Oscar Alvarado.

Poinciana’s Stefan Moody scored 26 in the Eagles 67-58 win over Harmony. Poinciana improved to 12-8. Isaiah Moser scored 17 for Harmony, 3-16.

In girls basketball, local teams are preparing for next week’s district tournaments after settling the Orange Belt Conference championship this week. Osceola can clinch the OBC title at surprising Harmony today at 7 p.m.

OHS, 17-5-1, is the No. 1 seed at the 7A-5 district tournament next week at Gateway. Osceola and No. 2 Poinciana, 16-7, have first round byes. First-round games Tuesday have No. 4 East Ridge against No. 5 Liberty (7-15) at 7 p.m. The winner meets OHS Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.

Gateway (13-11), No. 3, plays No. 6 Lake Minneola Tuesday at 5 p.m. Thet winner plays PHS Friday at 5 p.m. The championship game Feb. 4 begins at 7 p.m.

Harmony beat Poinciana, 72-56, Tuesday as Marie Gilbert scored 25 points and the Rebekah Fitzpatrick had 15. Kadesia Johnson had 24 for the Lady Eagles.

The win boosted Harmony to 18-3 overall and 4-1 in the OBC. Osceola is 5-0 in the conference.

Harmony will host the 7A-6 district tournament next week and play Oak Ridge at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinal round Wednesday. St. Cloud will play Celebration in the other semifinal at 6 p.m.

The championship is Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. The 7A-6 and 7A-5 district champions and runners-up will meet in the regional quarerfinals Feb. 9.