WINTER PARK, FL -- December 1-4, 2021

The OCP boys basketball team entered the 45th Annual Winter Park Rotary as the defending champions and winners of 48-games in a row, the longest known win streak in the Orlando area according to the Orlando Sentinel. The opening opponent in the quarterfinals, Olympia high school, knew that, prepared to play their best and made enough timely baskets to defeat OCP 50-48.

It was a great defensive contest between two teams with high-major talent on both sidelines. OCP was faced with nearly a double-digit deficit twice in the second half, but rallied to bring the game to within a basket in the closing moments of the contest. Trailing 49-37 with just over 3 minutes to play, OCP went on an 11-0 run as senior A.J. Brown scored nine of his 16 points in final 4 minutes of the game, including a pair of 3-pointers during the run. 

Senior Ven Allen Lubin, who led the Warriors with 18 points, had a go-ahead basket attempt blocked by Olympia's Kevins Charles. Charles would be fouled and sent to the free throw line for a pair, but he only made the first of two leaving the door open for OCP to tie, or win the game on a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play. Unfortunately, the Warriors turned the ball over on the possession following the rebound and never was able to get a shot up.  

“Their older guys made some big plays,” OCP coach Treig Burke said to the Orlando Sentinel.

Asked about the end of the three-year winning streak, which included a 27-0 record last season, Burke said, “Maybe we can start another one.”

It was the first defeat for the Warriors since the championship game of a holiday tournament on December 30, 2019.

STARTING A NEW STREAK

Playing in the consolation side of the bracket, OCP found their offense, while maintaining their defensive toughness against a pair of opponents they faced in last years Rotary.

OCP defeated Mainland 62-31, less than 24 hours after losing their opening game of the tournament. Sophomore Isaiah Brown led the team in scoring, along with Lubin, with 14 points. Freshman Mikel Brown added 13 points. Isaiah and Mikel Brown, no relation to each other, combination shot well from the field. Mikel was 3-for-3 from the 3-pt arc, while Isaiah was 2-for-3 from distance. Isaiah was 3-for-3 inside the arc, including a nice poster dunk off a pass from Lubin in transition following a turnover at midcourt. Both were 2-for-2 at the free throw line. 

The Warriors shot 62% (8-13) from behind the arc compared to 25% the previous night.  With the win, OCP advanced the 5th Place game against Edgewater high school.

OCP got offensive production from every player on the roster for the second consecutive game in a 64-34 victory over the Eagles.  A.J. Brown led the scoring with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Lubin had 9 points and 9 rebounds and was named to the Winter Park Rotary All-Tournament Team.

OCP's record improved to 3-1, and the team will travel to Columbia, SC to participate in "The Bash", an elite international high school basketball showcase hosted by Ridge View High School in Columbia.