Historically, it’s been Osceola High and everyone else when it comes to boys’ basketball in the county. The Kowboys own three state championships, a state runner-up and numerous Orange Belt Conference, district, and regional titles.
And while other teams— most notably 2018 Class 5A state champ Poinciana—has had its moments, few regional followers have considered Osceola County a hotbed for boys’ basketball. But that’s started to change of late.
Duke Leonardo took over at Harmony and has led the Longhorns to back-to-back 20-win seasons. Craig Walls revitalized the Poinciana program and after he left at the end of last season, former assistant Ramesses Khalfani took over and has the Eagles 10-3. St. Cloud endured 20 consecutive losing seasons before Tommy Billiteri took over and posted a 19-7 record last season, won the school’s first OBC title and took 7A state finalist Edgewater to the brink in a 72-67 regional playoff game. This season Billiteri’s Bulldogs are a red-hot 15-1.
Osceola started all freshmen and sophomores two years ago and now has a mature roster that is off to a 13-1 start and holds a No. 12 overall state ranking. Add in an always fundamentally sound Gateway team, a Liberty team that is 9-1 this year under second-year coach Steve Ross, and Coach Michael Van Hooser’s much-improved 7-7 Celebration team, and next week’s Orange Belt Conference tournament has the potential to be one of the most exciting and hotly-contested ever.
“I’ve been a part of the county basketball scene for the better part of 30 years and this is the deepest and most talented that the county has ever been,” Kowboys coach Steve Mason said. “For years, we might have had one good team maybe and a couple of okay ones. This year is definitely different. I think there are three or four really good teams and a couple of more capable of pulling an upset. Winning three games (next) week is going to be tough mission.”
The tournament starts Monday; top-seeded Osceola and No. 2 St. Cloud host quarterfinal games at 5 and 7 p.m. The Kowboys welcome Tohopekaliga, Harmony and Poinciana. The Bulldogs host Celebration, Liberty and Gateway.
Semifinal and placement games will be on the same two sites on Wednesday (5 and 7 p.m.) Gateway hosts the third place and championship games on Friday, Jan. 17 at 5 and 7 p.m.
“It should be a great tournament, any one of four or five teams could win it” Billiteri added. “One of our goals heading into this season was to repeat as OBC champions. Although the tournament has little to do with the post-season, it’s a chance to play for a trophy and for bragging rights in the county and that means something to the players.”
OBC boys basketball tournament schedule:
Monday: At Osceola: Harmony vs. Poinciana, 5 p.m.; OHS vs. Tohopekaliga, 7 p.m.; At St. Cloud: Liberty vs. Gateway, 5 p.m. SCHS vs. Celebration, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Monday’s losers at Osceola & St. Cloud, 5 p.m.; Monday’s winners, 7 p.m.
Thursday: 5th and 7th place games at higher-seed, 7 p.m.
Friday: 3rd place game at Gateway, 5 p.m., followed by championship game.
