Undefeated Orlando Christian Prep plays a Class 2A semifinal on Wednesday’s opening day of the 2021 Florida High School Athletic Association boys basketball state tournament in Lakeland.
Boys Basketball FHSAA State Tournament
At RP Funding Center, Lakeland
Class 2A semifinal
Orlando Christian Prep (25-0) vs. Boca Raton Grandview Prep (16-2)
When: Wednesday, noon.
Buzz: Top-ranked OCP has won 45 consecutive games including last season’s state title run. Grandview, No. 2 in 2A, has won 11 in a row.
OCP stat leaders: A.J. Brown, 6-4, Jr. (14.4 ppg, 2.1 apg); Omar Figueroa, 6-0, Sr. (14.0 ppg, 2.2 apg.); Ven-Allen Lubin, 6-7, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
GP stat leaders: Pedro Brown, 6-8, Sr. (13.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg); Gunner Walters, 6-0, Jr. (17.6 ppg); Makye Boles, 6-6, Sr. (15.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg).
History: They’ve met six times in Lakeland and the winner has always been a state champ. The Warriors beat Grandview in state finals in 2008, 2009 and 2014 and in a semifinal in 2016. The Pride ousted OCP in a 2013 final and a 2016 semifinal. OCP is shooting for its ninth state championship in a span of 14 seasons.
Tickets: $10 per day in advance online (RPfundingcenter.com with $1.90 service fee); $13 game day at box office. Parking fee is $10. The arena has socially distant seating with a capacity of 2,400 for COVID-19 guidelines.
Saturday: Winner gets an early wakeup call for 10 a.m. championship game against Jacksonville Impact Christian (19-8) or Southwest Florida Christian Academy (17-11) of Fort Myers.
This report was first published at OrlandoSentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
