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n early drive brings us to our first day at the City of Palms.  The opening game features Ranney School out of New Jersey vs. Sunshine State power Orlando Christian Prep.  Sadly, UNC signee is out with an ankle injury suffered in the previous game, so OCP will need to elevate its collective game against Ranney School and their junior studs Bryan Antoine and Scottie Lewis.

The teams traded baskets for the first few possessions.  With the score tied at 4-4, OCP went on a 9-0 run as DeQuan Lockett scored inside, C.J. Walker threw down a lob, Kai Jones scored in transition and Renaldo Segu capped off the run with a three to give OCP a 13-4 lead with 3:20 to play.  Things were looking good for the Warriors.  That was fool’s gold as Ranney righted their ship.  Ranney ended the quarter with a 16-0 run with Antoine nailing a three, hitting two free throws, then converting a three point play.  That was followed by a three from Ahmadu Sarnor and finalized with a three from Scottie Lewis and then a baseline drive from Lewis.  A nine point Ranney deficit was now a seven point Ranney lead at 20-13.

Ranney’s run didn’t end with the first quarter.  They outscored OCP 9-2 over the course of the first two plus minutes of the second period as Sarnor scored at the rim, Antoine hit a three then a bucket inside and Savior Akuwovo scored inside as well.  A bucket inside by Walker was the lone score OCP could muster.  From that point on the teams traded baskets for the rest of the half which found Ranney up thirteen at 35-22.

Ranney grew the margin to fifteen quickly after Antoine scored in transition to open the third period.  A three from OCP’s Goodson cut into the deficit but that was answered by a three from Alex Kansky of Ranney.  Lockett scored inside for OCP but another Ranney three, this one by Antoine made the score 43-27 with five minutes left in the third.  A pair of OCP baskets, one by Lockett and one by Renaldo Segu, cut the deficit to twelve and it looked like OCP might start a comeback.  A baseline drive by Ranney’s Sarnor was offset by  another inside bucket from Lockett and when Antoine hit another three, the margin was back to fifteen at 48-33.  The teams would trade baskets until Walker of OCP hit one of two free throws to make the score 50-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

Both teams scored early in the fourth but then a lull kicked in where neither team scored for three or four possessions.  Ranney was the first to break the drought first and they did so in a big way with a vicious slam by Antoine, followed by a free throw from Chris Autino and an Antoine three.  OCP managed a free throw from Walker but with the score now 58-39 with 4:30 left to play, the game was out of reach for the Warriors.  Ranney school would ultimately go on to win by the score of 66-49.

Antoine of Ranney led all scorers with 30 points.  Akuwovo added 12 while Scottie Lewis contributed 11 points.

For OCP, only Lockett could manage double figures with 16 points.