Boys basketball power Oak Ridge entered the season with zero returning starters and a landmine schedule loaded with ranked teams and out-of-state trips. That’s meant a lot of ups and downs for the Pioneers (17-9).
But with talented transfers Donovan Williams, Nathan Early and Whitfield Bynoe and ninth grade blue-chipper Jordan Smith joining a deep roster, it was just a matter of time for Oak Ridge to put the pieces together and make another postseason run.
The Pioneers, seeded No. 1 in a tough Class 7A Region 2 bracket, clicked on all cylinders and showed off their depth Saturday afternoon in a 102-65 quarterfinal rout of visiting St. Cloud (22-6).
Whitfield Bynoe, a junior who previously played for Orlando Christian Prep and Colonial, scored 22 points to lead six Oak Ridge players in double digits. Jahmar Smith, a sophomore returner who played some JV and some varsity last season, added 21 points. Senior Nathan Earl, who returned to Florida after a season with Milton, Georgia, had 19 points. Williams, a UCF signee who played two seasons for Edgewater and one for Oak Hill Academy of Virginia as a junior, scored 11 points and Tim Winkler and Cayden Early both scored 10 in the win.
“We’re playing good basketball now,” said Oak Ridge coach Steve Reece. “I put them in the fire. Those butt-kickings we were getting really helped us.”
Oak Ridge missed its first eight shot attempts and the game was tied 14-14 late in the first quarter. But the Pioneers’ relentless defensive pressure propelled numerous fastbreaks that broke the game open. Oak Ridge scored 16 points in the first quarter, then 26, 28 and 32 in the final three as Reece spurred his team to get to 100 points for the first time this season.
“They’re just so quick getting up and down the court,” St. Cloud coach Tommy Billiteri said. “You can’t duplicate that end-to-end speed (in practice).”
Oak Ridge had 11 steals and 10 deflections and flexed its big size advantage with 7 blocked shots.
Winkler, a 6-foot-10 senior, had 9 rebounds. He shared time with 6-7 freshman prospect Jordan Smith, who had 8 points and 4 of the blocks.
Oak Ridge, Orlando’s highest-ranked 7A team at No. 4, will remain at home as the region top seed in another Saturday game against a district rival, either Dr. Phillips or Windermere High.
Junior guard Nate Thompson was 12-for-12 on free throws and totaled 17 points for St. Cloud. Seniors Diomar Ortiz (15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Elias Torres (13 points) for a Bulldogs team that also had to revamp its lineup this season.
By Buddy Collings
St. Cloud lost boys basketball players, but keeps winning | Varsity Weekly
No. 1 LHP coasts
Senior guard Robert Oskarsson made 7 three-point shots and Lake Highland Prep (27-1), the area’s top-ranked team, rolled past Astronaut 69-23 in 3A Region 2.
Oskarsson totaled 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Mike Madueme added 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, and RJ Ingram had 8 points and 3 assists in the win.
The Highlanders will be home again for Saturday’s semifinal.
CHECK BACK HERE FOR RESULTS AND NEWS FROM FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES
7A Region 1
No. 8 Seminole (10-16) at No. 1 Winter Park (20-7), 6 p.m.
No. 5 Apopka (15-11) at No. 4 Lake Brantley (15-12)
No. 6 Flagler Palm Coast (17-10) at No. 3 Atlantic Coast (20-6)
No. 7 Hagerty (16-9) at No. 2 Lake Mary (20-7)
7A Region 2
Oak Ridge 102, St. Cloud 65
No. 5 Windermere (14-13) at No. 4 Dr. Phillips (15-12)
No. 6 Wellington (16-8) at No. 3 Jupiter (24-3)
No. 2 Olympia (15-10) at No. 7 Palm Beach Central (19-7), 6 p.m.*
7A Region 3
No. 8 Winter Haven (12-14) at No. 1 Sarasota (21-6)
No. 5 Lehigh (23-4) at No. 4 Sumner (16-10)
No. 4 Ridge Community (16-6) at No. 3 Plant (21-6)
No. 7 Sarasota Riverview (16-10) at No. 2 Osceola (21-5)
6A Region 1
No. 8 Forest (17-8) at No. 1 Mainland (22-3)
No. 5 Buchholz (19-7) at No. 4 Milton (24-3)
No. 6 Oviedo (19-7) at No. 3 Tocoi Creek (22-4)
No. 7 Nease (20-6) at No. 2 Lake Howell (22-5)
6A Region 2
No. 1 Evans (19-7) at No. 8 Gaither (20-7)*
No. 4 Wekiva (20-7) at No. 5 Viera (20-6)*
No. 6 Lakeland (19-7) at No. 3 Bartow (22-5)
No. 7 East River (14-11) at No. 2 Edgewater (17-9)
5A Region 2
No. 8 Leesburg (12-10) at No. 1 Lecanto (21-6)
No. 5 Seabreeze (21-7) at No. 4 Auburndale (19-8)
No. 3 New Smyrna Beach (21-5) at No. 6 Wesley Chapel (16-9)*
No. 7 Pine Ridge (12-14) at No. 2 Ocala Vanguard (19-8)
4A Region 2
No. 8 Satellite (17-10) at No. 1 North Marion (21-3)
No. 5 Eustis (18-6) at No. 4 Eastside (15-8)
No. 6 Lake Weir (13-10) at No. 3 Palm Bay (22-6)
No. 7 Bishop Moore (15-12) at No. 2 Atlantic (19-8)
3A Region 2
Lake Highland Prep 69, Astronaut 23
No. 5 Calvary (17-10) at No. 4 Tampa Catholic (20-8)
No. 6 Cardinal Mooney (21-5) at No. 3 Windermere Prep (21-6)
No. 7 Discovery (18-7) at No. 2 Villages (20-7)
2A Region 1
No. 8 Bishop Snyder (9-17) at No. 1 Providence (24-3)
No. 5 San Jose Prep (17-9) at No. 4 Rocky Bayou Christian (21-6)
No. 6 P.K. Yonge (12-13) at No. 3 University Christian (13-10)
No. 7 Trinity Catholic (14-12) at No. 2 The First Academy (17-10)
2A Region 2
No. 8 Katz Yeshire (14-8) at No. 1 Santa Fe Catholic (20-7)
No. 5 Lakeland Christian (16-9) at No. 4 Jupiter Christian (16-8)
No. 6 Foundation Academy (13-13) at No. 3 Benjamin (15-10), 6 p.m.
No. 2 Holy Trinity (17-9) at No. 7 Melbourne Central Catholic (10-17)*
1A Region 2
No. 1 Central Florida Christian Academy (20-6) at No. 8 Halifax (20-8)*
No. 5 Mount Dora Christian (20-7) at No. 4 Florida Prep (18-7)
No. 6 Lake Mary Prep (18-7) at at No. 3 Legacy Charter (18-8)
No. 7 North Tampa Bay Christian (11-16) at No. 2 Orlando Christian Prep (19-6)
1A Region 3
No. 8 Universal Academy (18-5) at No. 1 Victory Christian (21-6)
No. 5 All Saints (16-7) at No. 4 Sarasota Christian (17-10)
No. 3 Donahue Catholic (21-6) at No. 6 Everglades City (20-8)*
No. 7 Canterbury (14-7) at No. 2 City of Life (21-6)
(* denotes a district champ hosting a higher-ranked team)
UCF signee Donovan Williams back in home court | Boys Basketball Preview
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.