By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The team that stood between Oviedo Coach Ed Kershner and Florida’s boys basketball all-time wins record was, ironically, Kershner’s former team, the Osceola Kowboys.

Kershner earned his 760th career victory Tuesday at the Great Florida Shootout, 53-38, over Bartow. Wednesday, in the consolation bracket semifinals, Kershner’s Lions squared off against OHS.

In another bit of irony, Osceola Coach Steve Mason grew up as one of Kershner’s biggest fans, one of many local youngsters who packed the Kowboys gym in the 1980s when Kershner’s “Speed Express” teams won one state championship and consistently were contenders for another.

“He got me started,” Mason said of Kershner.

In a game that had as much intensity as any at the Shootout, the student persevered over the master Wednesday as the Kowboys overcame an 11-point deficit to beat Oviedo, 70-59.

“That was a great win for us,” Mason said. “I said earlier that we’ve been close to getting over the hump, to winning close games in the fourth quarter, and that’s what we did today. This could be the kind of win that’s a turning point, that sets the stage for the rest of the season.”

Senior Jedarian Jackson (25) carried the load throughout for the Kowboys, hitting 10 of 14 from the field including a key steal and a layup with 2:35 left that gave OHS a 62-55 lead.

Oviedo pressed frantically in the last two minutes, but the Kowboys’ Michael Sanchez (18), Antonio Benitez (18), Nigel Daise (6 points, 4 assists) and Stanley Turk (3) were flawless in breaking the press.

Benitez scored three open layups in the last 1:30 to wrap up the win.

The Kowboys, 8-4, played in the consolation championship game Thursday. Poinciana also played a consolation game. Because of early holiday deadlines, the results of Thursday’s Shootout games are available at aroundosceola.com.

Kershner quipped after the game that he didn’t want to set the career wins record against Osceola, but his team’s effort said otherwise.

The Lions, 8-6, jumped to a 7-0 lead behind Carnelius Green (19) and were ahead 30-27 at the half. The game seesawed in the third quarter before a 10-0 OHS run to make it 53-48 early in the fourth quarter made it apparent that this would not be a history-making day for Kershner.

After he tied Wallen’s record Tuesday with his 760th win, Kershner downplayed the significance of the record.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” he said. “We’re so young and so inexperienced that I’m focused on just teaching our kids how to win games. The other stuff, that’s something that I don’t pay a lot of attention to.”

Jackson, who averaged 19 points through the first three Shootout games, said the Kowboys knew the significance of Wednesday’s game against Oviedo.

“He (Mason) told us that the Oviedo coach was a great coach, that he was at Osceola a long time and won a lot of games,” Jackson said. “We knew we had to play hard. We had our ‘A’ game.”

Mason said the Kowboys are beginning to find the form that may carry them into the regional playoffs for the third straight year.

“And, the good thing is that we’re going to keep getting better,” he said.

Sanchez averaged 21.6 points through three Shootout games, and Benitez averaged 15 points.

Kershner, who won 247 games at OHS from 1980 through 1991, including the 1983 state championship, said much of his success is the result of having good players and good assistant coaches.

“You’ve got to be in a community that fosters success, and that’s what I had here at Osceola, and now, for the last 16 years, at Oviedo,” Kershner, who started his coaching career in Indiana, said.

Kershner started the Shootout in 1981, during his second season at OHS. He has won four Shootout championships, two with OHS and two with Oviedo.

But, the Central Florida coaching legend will have to wait a few more days for win No. 761.

“I know Ed is probably disappointed, but this is a great win for us,” Mason said.

The Kowboys host St. Cloud Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Gateway will go to Celebration Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Harmony travels to Okeechobee at 7:30 p.m. Poinciana waits until Friday to get back in action, at OHS, at 7:30 p.m.

Heritage Christian will host Kingsway Christian Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.