Osceola Hoops Continue To Roll, St. Cloud, Liberty Remain Undefeated

By: J. Daniel Pearson

Could the boys’ basketball team at Osceola join the school’s football and volleyball teams in making a deep run into the 2024-25 FHSAA post-season?

If early results are any type of indication, it certainly appears possible as the Kowboys pushed their season record to 7-1 Thursday night with a relatively easy 75-61 home win over Melbourne (5-3). It was Osceola’s third win in a row and they will look to extend that streak tonight, when they host Rocklege (7-2). Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Kowboys Gymnasium.

Osceola took control of Thursday’s game quickly, using eight points from Jordan Mundle and six from Jordan Mason to build a double-digit lead after one quarter, 21-10. Despite pressing the ball and creating numerous turnovers, Osceola’s shooting went cold in the second stanza. Still the Kowboys managed to outscore Melbourne by one in the period and take a 37-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“We play fast and aggressive,” Osceola coach Steve Mason said. “Unfortunately, we will end up taking some shots I’m not too happy about or we will turn the ball over trying to force things a little too much. But on the flip side, we tend to get a lot of fast breaks and get a lot more offensive looks, so right now it’s an acceptable tradeoff. Obviously the mistakes and bad shots are something we are going to want to cut down on as the season progresses.”

The Bulldogs came out firing in the third quarter. Moses McKay made a layup off an offensive board and Steve Horning hit a three after a steal and the 5-0 run cut the gap to 37-30, less than a minute into the third.

Although Melbourne would stay hot in the quarter, it would be as close as the Bulldogs would get for the rest of the game. Osceola would score 24 points in the period, including nine by Jordan Isaac and seven from Luke McCrimon as the Kowboys extended the lead to 14 after three, 61-47.

A 10-0 Osceola run to start the fourth would blow the game wide open. For the Kowboys, McCrimon led all scored with 21, Mundle dropped in 20; with Isaac (17) and Mason (14) also hitting double figures. Carter Zgonc led Melbourne with 15.

It was the fourth time in its last five games that Osceola placed at least four players in double figures. “It’s early in the season, but one thing I really like about this team is its chemistry,” Mason noted. “Every time we score, our guys view as a “we” basket, not an individual “I” basket. They have played selfless basketball all season, always looking for the open player. “

Although Osceola was outrebounded in the game, something that has happened several times this season, Mason says help is on the way. Osceola DE Randy Jean Charles (6-6, 220) is expected to join the team next week after Friday’s state championship football game.

“Randy is a Dennis Rodman type, he loves to play defense and get rebounds,” Mason said. “It may take him a couple of weeks to get into basketball shape after football, but he will be an absolute difference maker for us in the paint.”

Osceola is the not the only county team playing well.

St. Cloud head coach Tommy Billiteri has the defending OBC Champion Bulldogs off to a 7-0 start this season following a 67-59 win over the Master’s Academy (5-2) on Tuesday night.

Alex Springs (19) and Malaki Baker (15) led the way in the win for the Bulldogs, who return to action tonight with the first of their two annual rivalry games with Harmony. The Longhorns will take a 5-2 record into the game after a 58-38 win over Tohopekaliga earlier in the week.

Despite a total rebuild, first-year head coach Ramesses Khalfani has Poinciana sitting at 5-1. The Eagles, led by junior Javonte Simpson-Lee (13.8 ppg, 14.1 rpg) suffered their first setback of the season this week to private school Southland Christian (13-1) by a close 65-63 margin.

After nine consecutive losing seasons (61-141 overall), second-year head coach Steve Ross has the Liberty Chargers at 7-0 this season, including wins over Tohopekaliga and Gateway. Sophomore Lamar Lee (14.0 ppg) leads a Charger lineup that includes five starters averaging double figures.

One more week of action takes place before Christmas break, but many teams are scheduled to participate in Holiday Tournaments. Here is the boys’ basketball schedule for the coming week:

Today (Friday, Dec. 13)

Rockledge at Osceola, 7 p.m.

Harmony at St. Cloud, 7 p.m.

Liberty at Poinciana, 7 p.m.

Heritage at Celebration, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 16

Harmony at East River, 7 p.m.

Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud, 7 p.m.

Tavares at Liberty, 7 p.m.

Odyssey Charter at Celebration, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Osceola at Altamonte Christian Academy, 7 p.m.