Osceola High has three state championship banners hanging in rafters. The Kowboys hope to use the 2021-22 season as a spring board to return to those championship days of deep playoff appearances.
Coach Steve Mason is in his second stint as Kowboys’ full-time head coach. He recorded a 66-30 record from 2009-13 before stepping down, setting the stage for assistant Nate Alexander to oversee the most successful period in school history with three state tournament appearances, two titles and seven trips to the playoffs.
Last year, the Kowboys went 13-9 under Steve Perez, who stepped down after one season to enter private business. That opened the door for Mason to return.
“I am really excited about this year’s team and certainly the future of OHS basketball,” Mason said. “We will go nine deep this year and I believe we have one of the best guard tandems in the area.”
He speaks of senior Chris Combs, who averaged 15.1 points per game last season, while younger brother Sean averaged 11.1. They combined for six steals per game. Add Ryan Rivera (9.3 ppg) to the mix and the Kowboys will have a strong backcourt.
The football team’s playoff exit means twosport stars Cory Vega (6-3, 220) and Jimarion McCrimmon (6-5, 260) will be available from the start of the season and provide solid rim protection on defense.
There’s the present — and there’s the future, which is also bright.
“We have about 30 kids in grades nine through 12 and we have been having voluntary 6 a.m. workouts where attendance was between 90 and 100 percent every day,” Mason said. “These players have really bought in to the system and understand what we need to do to get back to states.
“We are in a tough district and regional, but I expect our team to be there at the end and hopefully make a deep run in the post-season.”
Gateway
Panthers Coach Travis James has also expressed optimism heading into his seventh season, after COVID-19 limited the team during a 10-4 season.
“We return one of my deepest rosters in recent years. Right now, I am not start,” he said. “We have nine potential starters who will be fighting for playing time and that competition is going to make everyone better. They certainly have bought in to what we are trying to do and hopefully we can get past districts.”
There’s production coming back in the form of Jeremy Velez (17.4 ppg, 3.6 apg), Julian Manzanares Birmingham (9.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Freshman Yangel Malpica and junior transfer Aiden Lake are promising newcomers.
Liberty
Lawrence Kelley takes over as Chargers head coach after three years as an assistant and says the program is entering a whole new era.
“This school has always had some really good athletes. Unfortunately a lot of them used basketball as something to do to stay in shape for football. We are changing that attitude and perception.“
He said the Chargers will play position-less basketball and will run an up-tempo offense. Freshman Lawrence Kelley IV and transfer Abraham Damian will lead this year’s team, which used its new upbeat offense and pressing defense to win a pre-season game by 54 points. Senior point guard Francisco Diaz also returns.
“Anyone who saw Liberty play in the last couple of years will not recognize this team,” Kelley said. “Our goal will be to have our best athletes on the court and we will be moving up and down the court with speed and precision. Our goal for this season is to get to the regional round and there’s no reason in my mind why we cannot make that happen.”
Celebration
New Coach Ton Bonanne is tasked with re-firing a Storm program that didn’t win a game in a COVID-shortened season.
Guards Dylan Davis and Mitchell Starks return, and some athleticism from CHS’ seven-win football team — John Santos, Lucca Reineer and Griffin Davis — will get added to the mix.
“We are working hard and trying to rebuild our program after a very difficult Covid season. This year we are working to blend our new players with the experienced players from last year,” Bonanne said. “CHS is looking forward to reestablishing a successful program and building a foundation for a many years to come.”
Harmony
The Longhorns are among a handful of teams with second-year coaches; the Longhorns went 6-12 under Duke Leonardo a year ago.
The team returns four players who saw extensive minutes last season: Miguel Tiraldo (Jr., 5-11, G, 7.7 ppg); Anthony White (Sr., 6-6, F, 7.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Rafael Balines (Jr., 5-11, G, 7.4 ppg) and Dallin Richardson (Sr., 5-10, G, 7.2 ppg).
“We return some experienced and productive players returning as we continue to build our program.”
Harmony’s in a district with three county programs and two Lake County teams at their same level, so a postseason berth isn’t out of the question.
Poinciana
The Eagles, who always seem to play for or dictate who wins Orange Belt Conference or district titles, were 12-7 under Craig Walls last season. They’ll have to replace graduated point guard R.J. Morgan, but have candidates in seniors Javon Rosier and Justin Wilson.
They’ll add a batch of new forwards to the mix: seniors Jaheem Petersen, Isaiah Hernandez and Cuvon Wilson and sophomore Devin Williams.
“We have a good mix of players returning,” Walls said. “In addition to competing for an OBC Championship, our goal is to finish in the top two in districts and get to the regional round of the playoffs.”
St. Cloud
The Bulldogs were 12-17 with Coach Brad Weber. Top scorer Tyrell Frederick graduated, but there’s production returning in Sean Quinones (G, 5-8, Sr., 8.8 ppg, 1.8 apg) and Ashton Arroyo (G, 5-7, Sr., 5.1 ppg, 2.4 apg).
Junior forward D.J. Hollingsworth and senior Jaden Morehead, who provided a spark to the football team, are newcomers that add depth, Weber said.
“We are deeper and a more experienced team this season,” he said. “Many players are going to be vying for playing time which is a good problem to have. Unfortunately, though we lose our player of the year and his scoring, so where those points come from is a concern. However, I believe that if we have all five guys on the floor working together, we can win a lot of games. Our goal for the upcoming season is to finish the job this time and win the district, as well as win in the playoffs.”
Tohopekaliga
Jesus Merced returns as the only coach the Tigers have ever had. Graduation and transfers hit hard, so the team will be short on varsity experience, despite five seniors in the lineup.
Forward Orlando Descartes (7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is the top returner, and guard Josh Camejo had 14 points in a season-opening 72-58 loss to a strong Oviedo squad Monday; the Tigers led midway through the second quarter.
Ehlis Patterson, Jaydrien Rivera and Peter Rodriguez are the other seniors; junior Eliel Silva and sophomore Steven Almost also saw big minutes Monday.
“We are going to be a young team, but having five seniors on the roster should make us better than last year,” Merced said. “The goal is to develop team chemistry and build a winning culture. I think with the senior leadership it will help us to reach our team goals.”
Districts
7A-5: Celebration, Dr. Phillips, Haines City, Olympia, West Orange, Windermere
7A-9: Osceola, Tohopekaliga, Cypress Creek, Freedom, Lake Nona
6A-6: Harmony, St. Cloud, Liberty, Poinciana, East Ridge, South Lake
5A-7: Gateway, Auburndale, Bishop Moore, Jones, Lake Minneola, Lake Wales
