Orlando Christian Prep

The 2021-22 OCP Lady Warriors Basketball team will have a few familiar faces on the court this season, but a new voice will be on the sidelines this year. Lauren Ashley was named the new head girls basketball coach in October after Chris Cenicola stepped down in the summer to turn his attention towards the students in the classroom at OCP.

Ashley is a graduate of Miramar High School and was a standout on the basketball court and the football field. She was part of the winningest basketball class at Miramar where she helped her team win back-to-back district championships and was named Defensive Player of the Year her senior season. She was named to all-star games and recognized on the "Big 8" all-tournament team.

On the field, she became a South Florida high school legend. Ashley led Miramar to the school's first FHSAA state championship for flag football leading her team to an undefeated (17-0) season as a senior. She would be named Miss Flag Football winning the Florida Dairy Farmers player of the year award. In her two years as the starting QB and Safety, Miramar went 35-1. Named in her honor, the Lauren Ashley Leadership Award is presented annually to a deserving senior at Miramar High School.

After high school, Ashley would help turnaround the women's basketball program at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens as she helped the Lions win two conference championships.

Prior to coming to OCP, Ashley was the head girls basketball coach at Ocoee High School in 2019, helping the Knight double their winning record from the previous year and earn their first district tournament win in several years.

Her previous coaching experience was at the college and high school level. Ashley returned to her alma mater as a basketball assistant coach and head coach for flag football from 2011-15, winning a district and regional championship in flag football.

She became an assistant coach with Florida Memorial in 2015 before joining the coaching staff at West Orange High School for three seasons from 2016-18. Those teams at West Orange were 75-12 winning two district championships and an appearance to the Elite 8.

PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE TO WORK WITH

The Lady Warriors are returning three starters from last year's 12-8 team that finished 3rd in districts a season ago. Junior Siarah Brown, who scored over 1,000 career points at OCP last year, returns as the leading offensive producer. Brown averaged 15.6 points per, 7.6 rebounds per, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals per contest.

Brown will look to sophomores Trinity Harden, playing her third year on varsity, and Aracelis Jimenez to play a larger role on both ends of the court this season as opponents eyes will most certainly turn to Brown this year. Harden averaged 7.1 points per, 4.7 rebounds per, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.  Jimenez averaged 4.5 points per, 2.5 rebounds per, and just at or over an assist and steal per game.

Role players from a season ago will have a chance to play an important role on this year's team. Junior Aalyssa Gunn, off a stellar volleyball season where she was named to the All-District team, and senior Elany Rivera played in 20 and 19 games, respectively, a year ago. They will be asked to do more as both are potential starters on opening night.

The Lady Warriors open the season at home on Tuesday November 16 against Forest Lake Academy. Tip-off will be 7:30pm following a pair of middle school boys games that start at 5:00 and 6:00 pm.  

After the Thanksgiving break, OCP will be on the road for a few game before returning home on December 7th to host Oviedo high school.

Come out AD Norman Life Center and meet Coach Ashley while supporting the 2021-22 Lady Warriors.