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Kowboys dump Devils

Sports

Friday, 18 February 2011 13:42

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
The Osceola Kowboys wanted one more chance to play 5A-5 district champion Lake Wales, and they got it when OHS eased past Lakeland Kathleen, 64-60, Thursday at the Red Devils gym.
Antonio Benitez hit a free throw with 10 seconds left to ice a closely contested game that saw OHS jump to a 14-6 first-quarter lead that Kathleen cut to one.
“Polk County basketball is unbelievable, the gym is packed, there’s athletes all over the place, it’s just an incredible atmosphere,” Kowboys Coach Steve Mason said.
Osceola, 23-7, advanced to the regional semifinals at Lake Wales. The Highlanders beat Lakeland, 74-49, Thursday. Lake Wales defeated OHS in three previous meetings this season.
Benitez led the Kowboys with 20 points, and Jedarian Jackson chipped in 18.
Point guard Michael Sanchez, recovering from a sprained ankle, scored 11 and was instrumental in beating Kathleen’s pressure defense, Mason said.
“They were putting two guys on the ball, and he was still beating it,” Mason said. “There aren’t too many players in high school, or college, that can handle that kind of pressure.”
Stanley Turk scored nine and took care of the Red Devils’ inside, Mason said.
“They had a 6-5 guy, and Stanley did a great job of keeping it under control,” Mason said.
Osceola has posted back-to-back 20-win seasons and is ranked (No. 10) in Class 5A for the second year in a row.
“These guys were third in the Shootout last year (2009) and beat a nationally ranked team, won the Shootout consolation championship this season and now they’ve gone farther in the regional than we have since 1998,” Mason said. “I told them that before (Thursday’s game) that their season was a B-plus. Now, it’s an A, no matter what happens.”
Mason said he is looking forward to Tuesday’s game at Lake Wales, which starts at 7 p.m.
“We played them close in two games in the regular season. At the district tournament (a 73-42 loss), we just didn’t have anything left after we beat Haines City the night before,” Mason said. “We’re going to go in there and play our game. We’ll have a chance to rest and get ready, and we’ll see what happens.”