Second-year Olympia boys basketball coach Justin Shipp knew that loading up his team’s regular season schedule with state-ranked teams and out-of-state powers would do more than just boost the Titans’ strength of scheduling rating — which ended up trailing only defending state champ Miami Columbus and Oak Ridge in Class 7A.
Olympia’s rugged schedule and hard knock losses paid big dividends on Saturday night when the Titans — with an all-underclass rotation — faced yet another pressure-packed situation that could have brought their season to a screeching halt. Olympia saw a 17-point lead shrink to six with 5:31 remaining in a 7A Region 2 semifinal against senior-heavy Wellington but had the poise to put the finishing touches on a decisive 57-40 win at home.
“We’ve been in so many big games,” Shipp said. “They guys were just ready for the moment.”
Olympia (17-10) made 11 of its 15 shot attempts while stifling the Wolverines offense in a five minute stretch that gave the Titans a 28-13 lead. That margin grew to 38-21 late in the third period. But Olympia made only two baskets in the final 10 minutes and looked to be in trouble when its lead shrunk to 40-34 with 5:31 to go.
“I wasn’t worried at all,” junior Bishop Wenze said afterward. “We just had to be poised. We always stay composed.”
Wenze, a 6-foot-7 small forward, scored a big dunk on a dish by sophomore CJ Dunnally and the Wolverines made 12 consecutive free throws to pull away again.
James Nowells, Olympia’s multi-faceted junior guard, scored 4 points in every quarter to lead all scorers with 16 points. But he said, “I feel like our defense is what really helped us.”
Wellington forced 11 turnovers in the first half and turned those miscues into 15 points. The Titans 4 blocked shots, 2 by sophomore reserve Kwasi Appiah.
Wenze finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Torrance Moore scored 9 points and Kevin Edou added 8. Both are juniors on a team that is due to return its top nine players next season.
But none of those guys want to wait to play for a state championship as seniors.
“We’re just focused on winning games,” Nowells said.
Next up is another Orange County Public School power, Oak Ridge, which will host Olympia in next week’s region final.
By Buddy Collings
Oak Ridge, Winter Park, LHP cruise Saturday | FHSAA Basketball Playoffs
Oak Ridge prevails
Oak Ridge, the No. 1 seed in 7A-2, had all it could handle in a 46-40 homecourt win against Windermere that saw both teams hold the ball with the clock clicking.
The Wolverines (15-14) took a 21-15 lead in the first quarter. Oak Ridge (19-9) seized the momentum in the second quarter, outsourcing Windermere 17-5 to take a lead that lasted.
“We were just trying to get the pace to where we needed it in the first quarter,” said Oak Ridge head coach Steve Reese. “We knew they were going to score, but we were planning on playing that way for four quarters.”
UCF signee Donovan Williams led Oak Ridge with 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Junior point guard Whitfield Bynoe added 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Tim Winkler, a 6-10 senior, hit the decisive final two free throws in the final seconds to put Oak Ridge ahead by six. He finished the game with 5 points and 5 rebounds.
After Windermere held the ball for over two and a half minutes at the end of the second quarter before continuing play, Oak Ridge returned the favor in the third quarter by holding the ball for over five and a half minutes.
It was quite the contrast after Oak Ridge scored 102 points in a quarterfinal win against St. Cloud
By Chris Martucci
Olympia, Evans, CFCA must hit the road | FHSAA basketball region pairings
No. 1 LHP shines
Mikey Madueme had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Lake Highland Prep (28-1) in a 53-40 home win against Calvary Christian (18-11) of Clearwater in a 3A-2 semifinal.
Shiva Atwal added 13 points and 4 assists. RJ Ingram contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. And Rob Oskarsson chipped in 9 points for the Highlanders.
Lake Highland, ranked No. 1 in the Orlando area and No. 2 in 3A by MaxPreps, advances to a region final for the first time since it was a final four team in 2022. The Highlanders will host 3A No. 6 Villages Charter (22-7) next Saturday. The Buffalo won its semifinal 68-45 against seventh-ranked Windermere Prep (22-7).
CHECK HERE FOR RESULTS, PAIRINGS
Evans vs. Bartow
Top-seed Evans will get a chance to repeat as the 6A Region 2 champ after winning 57-44 against Viera (21-7) in its semifinal.
Abimael “AB” Belleus scored 17 points and Kadi Rackley scored 15 in the homecourt victory.
Bartow (24-5) won 69-56 at Edgewater (18-10) in a game that drew a big crowd and will make another trip to Orlando to play Evans for the region title and state tourney berth next week.
Edgewater was down by seven going into the fourth quarter but tied the game 52-52 on a tip-in by 6-4 junior Julian Fox. But Bartow got to the rim for four consecutive baskets to take a 60-54 lead while the Eagles struggled to scor.
Fox scored 21 points in the loss.
OCP-CFCA
Orlando Christian Prep (21-6) and Central Florida Christian Academy (22-6) punched their tickets for another Saturday showdown in the 1A-2 final.
OCP (21-6) beat Legacy Charter 88-55 with Solomon Bradshaw (18 points, Josh Theus (15) and Jayden Strader (13) leading the way.
Top seed CFCA (22-6) won 69-58 against Mount Dora Christian (21-8) and will host OCP.
Double-overtime
Johnas Maurice had 36 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds for Lake Howell and the SilverHawks (24-5) won double-overtime thriller, 82-77 against Tocoi Creek.
Ethan Diaz had 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Isaac Buckley added 13 points and 9 rebounds as Lake Howell avenged a 2025 playoff defat.
The SilverHawks will be home again in the 6A Region final against Buchholz (21-7) of Gainesville.
Elsewhere
Will Ryan had 14 points and 12 rebounds as Winter Park (22-7) stayed alive with a 29-24 home win against Apopka (16-12) in 7A-1. The Wildcats stay at home for the final against Lake Mary (22-7), which won 57-33 against Atlantic Coast (21-7).
Winter Park edged Apopka 42-40 in an early season game.
Kissimmee Osceola (22-6) lost a 7A-3 heartbreaker, 66-65, at home against Tampa Plant (23-6). The Kowboys had won 16 in a row before the defeat.
Pine Ridge (14-14), a seventh seed, advanced to the 5A-2 final with an 68-67 win against third seed New Smyrna Beach (22-6). The Panthers will play at No. 1 Lecanto (23-6) next week.
The First Academy (19-10) rolled past P.K. Yonge in a 65-36 victory in 2A-1. The Royals travel to Jacksonville to face 2A No. 1 Providence Christian (25-3) next week.
City of Life (22-7) lost 59-55 against Donahue Catholic (22-7) in 1A-3.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].