By Rick Pedone

Sports Editor

For the first time, Poinciana will host a boys basketball regional playoff game today when Leesburg visits at 7 p.m.

The Eagles, 19-7, won their first district championship over Eustis, 56-55, in overtime Saturday at the St. Cloud gym at the 4A-6 tournament.

Sherwood Vinson, Osanto Marc and Stefan Moody all scored 14 points, while Lex Curry had 8 and Paris Greene added 6 as Poinciana rallied from a 45-39 deficit in the fourth quarter.

Three more local boys basketball teams will play at regional tournaments today.

New Dimensions, 10-15, won its second consecutive 2A-9 district title Saturday over Lakeland Santa Fe, 58-48, and will host Clearwater Calvary Christian today at 7 p.m.

Two county teams are on the road today after losing district championship games.

Osceola, 22-7, has a regional rematch at Lakeland Kathleen today after losing to Lake Wales. Kathleen beat OHS in the regional round last year.

The Kowboys defeated Haines City, 69-61, Friday to reach the district title game.

Life Christian Academy, 19-8, lost to Lakeland Victory Christian, 46-38, at the A-7 tournament and will travel to  Bradenton Christian today.

Coach Kevin Hosford said the Lions played without two starters, benched for rules violations.

Poinciana rallied against Eustis thanks to hustle under the glass. Green put in rebound to start the fourth-quarter rally, then Marc and Curry hit put-backs to draw the Eagles within one, 45-44, after Curry converted a three-point play.

Eustis drew back ahead by five, 49-44, before Curry hit a pair of free throws and Vinson drilled a 3-point shot to send it into overtime.

Eustis led by 1, 55-54, with 1:20 to go in the OT before Greene hit a driving lay-up with 1:02 left for the game’s final points.

The Panthers held for the last shot, but turned it over with nine seconds left.

“Last year, Oak Ridge just had us out-matched, and the year before that, South Lake jumped on us early,” Poinciana Coach Jay Lunce said in comparing this team’s success to frustrations of the past. “Everybody we’ve matched up with, where size-wise we had a chance, we’ve always played well.”

Lunce said the Eagles have learned to share the ball, and that has contributed to their success.

“This is the first group I’ve had who treat each other as family,” he said.

Lunce said Leesburg, 22-4, is quick and athletic, like Poinciana.

“They aren’t real big inside, but I am a little concerned about matching up with them,” he said. “It was an upset that they lost to Lake Weir in the championship game, but I don’t know if it was a real big upset. I think they were pretty close.”

The Yellow Jackets lost the district championship to Lake Weir, 76-75, when Leesburg’s Teron Wallace missed the last of three free throws with no time on the clock after being fouled attempting a desperation 3-point attempt.

Like Poinciana, Leesburg has a quartet of capable scorers in Wallace, Joe Toolie, D’maury Jones and Undra Mitchem, all scoring in double figures in the championship game.

Osceola Coach Steve Mason said the Kowboys are capable of upending Kathleen, 16-11, today despite a 73-42 loss against district champion Lake Wales Saturday at Ridge Community High.

“We worked so hard preparing for Haines City, we had nothing left,” Mason said. “It was like last year, Lake Wales had a real tough emotional game against Winter Haven in the semifinals, and the next night we had a running clock on them.”

OHS point guard Michael Sanchez has been hampered by an ankle injury. Jedarian Jackson had 11 points against Lake Wales.

Mason said aside from a loss to Longwood Lyman to end the regular season, the Kowboys have lost only to ranked teams. Lake Wales, No. 4 in Class 5A, has beaten the Kowboys three times. It hosts Lakeland Thursday.

“I hope we can get another chance at Lake Wales. We have a chance against Kathleen,” Mason said.

Heritage Christian beat Liberty Christian, 76-36, Tuesday in the Florida Christian Conference playoffs. Maynard Rowe scored 32 to boost his career total to 2,201 points. Josh Newman added 25. Heritage will host West Melbourne today at 7:30 p.m. The winner advances to the state tournament Saturday.

Gateway fell at the 6A-6  tournament, 53-42, against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast.