By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Poinciana’s shooters were blazing hot in the first quarter of their  4A District 6 showdown against Oak Ridge Thursday, leading to a 70-55 win at the Mike Brizendine gym.

Poinciana hit 11 of its first 18 shots, including four 3-pointers, and jumped to a 28-13 lead it never relinquished.

Osanto Marc scored eight of his team-high 17 points in the opening period and he got plenty of help from teammates Lex Curry (14), Stefan Moody (13), Sherwood Vinson (10) and Paris Greene (9).

“We got off to a great start. It was probably one of the best quarters we’ve played all year,” Poinciana Coach Jay Lunce said.

The win boosted PHS to 14-6 overall and 4-1 in the district. Oak Ridge could have clinched the top seed at the district tournament with a win, but instead it fell to at least the No. 3 seed. Poinciana will likely be the No. 2 seed at the district tournament at St. Cloud in two weeks, behind Eustis, if it wins at Harmony today at 5:30 p.m.

Poinciana dominated the first half of the game and led 44-24 at the intermission, but the Pioneers made a run in the second half  and pulled to within seven points, 56-49, in the fourth period behind the play of forward Marquel Willis (17) as the officials allowed plenty of contact.

Oak Ridge guard Dretan Williams drove to the basket with four minutes to play, but the Eagles’ Greene held his ground and took a charge that quelled the Pioneers’ momentum.

“That turned out to be a huge play, because he (Williams) scored. I hoped they would call it, but I wasn’t sure with the way they were letting them play,” Lunce said. “It was a great job by all of our guys. It’s a big win for us.”

After Greene took the charge, the Eagles blitzed Oak Ridge and outscored them 14-6 in the final minutes of the game.

After Poinciana concludes its district schedule today against Harmony, the Eagles have a pair of big non-district tests on tap next week. Poinciana hosts local rival Liberty Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. before visiting Oviedo Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

In another district contest Thursday, Osceola beat Liberty, 64-49, in a 5A District 5 game that was postponed two days because of Tuesday’s thunderstorms. Antonio Benitez led OHS with 16 points.

The Kowboys, 17-5, wrapped up their district schedule Friday at Sebring. The Kowboys play at the Longwood Lyman Invitational Wednesday against Apopka.

Lake Wales, Haines City and the Kowboys are vying for the top seed at the district tournament in two weeks.

“We’re in a very good district. Lake Wales and Haines City are strong. We’re going to have to play very well to come out of it,” Kowboys Coach Steve Mason said.

Liberty, 6-13, lost at Haines City, 81-57, Wednesday in a 5A-5 game, the first of three in a row for Coach Anthony Crespo’s squad.

St. Cloud, 9-10, lost at Oak Ridge, 56-37, Wednesday in a game delayed from Tuesday. Zack Hull had 10 for the Bulldogs.

St. Cloud will host the 4A-6 district tournament.