In a rematch of last year’s finale, the Wildcats won 52-44 over Dr. Phillips behind a game-high 25 points from Rivers. The Duke signee shot just 8-of-25 from the field but pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Neither team shot particularly well as Winter Park (28-5) went just 4-of-20 from beyond the arc and Dr. Phillips (27-6) finished 3-of-19 from long range. The Panthers also struggled from the free throw line, going 5-of-15 on the night.

Winter Park led by six points for much of the second half before the Panthers tied the game at 34-all with five minutes to play. Dr. Phillips closed the gap when they got a layup and free throw from Shane Larkin, followed by a 3-pointer by Isaac Lane.

The Wildcats took over from there, though, as Rivers ignited an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer of his own. Three buckets from BillyDee Williams and a tip-in by Brett Comer followed to put the Wildcats on top for good at 45-34 with two-and-a-half minutes to go.

“To repeat and get another state championship with my team, that means everything to me and our community,” Rivers said afterwards. “We’re so blessed to be here.”

Rivers entered the game averaging 28.8 points and six rebounds per game. Austin Keel scored 11 points for Winter Park. Williams added seven points.

Larkin ended his career with 10 points (4-of-13 shooting), 10 rebounds and seven assists. He entered the game averaging 19 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists and has committed to DePaul University.

Dr. Phillips got a team-high 12 points and five rebounds from Darius Andrews.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com and follow at Facebook or @OrlandoSportsJC ) –

Despite 25 points from Austin Rivers in Winter Park’s semifinal matchup on Tuesday against Georgia’s Alpharetta Milton, the Wildcats were unable to hold onto a second-half lead before falling 63-62.

Winter Park (10-3) went on to lose big in the third-place game 84-66 to California’s Mater Del. The Class 6A champion Wildcats trailed by four at halftime then was outscored 31-19 in the third quarter.

Rivers, a Duke signee, was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 28 points against Mater Del. He had 28 points and 7 rebounds in a 75-63 win over Louisiana Riverside Academy and scored 42 points in a 76-64 win over Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer.

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski was among those in the crowd for Wednesday’s nationally televised game.

Orlando Christian Prep (9-3) lost its first game at the prestigious event to Mater Del on Saturday. They qualified for the consolation final with a 70-62 win over Riverside as Adonis Burbage scored 24 points and Isaac Cohen had 21 points in the win.

In their final game at the event against Miami Dr. Krop, Burbage went for 26 points as OCP won 64-56. Orlando Christian Prep also defeated New York’s Christ the King 81-76 with Cohen leading the way with 27 points.

Winter Park finished the tournament as runners-up last year after taking third in 2008.

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The Wildcats are one of seven teams from Florida competing at the prestigious event, while state powers from 11 other states are also scheduled to take part.

Both the consolation final and championship games will be shown on ESPNU on Wednesday night.

Winter Park lost in the title game a year ago to New Jersey’s Paterson Catholic 62-54. Austin Rivers, who went for 45 points in the semis and 27 points in the championship game, was named most valuable player of the event for the second-straight year.

No team from the state of Florida has won the event since Miami Senior did so in 1996.

If the defending Class 6A state champs are to be the first team since then to stake claim to the hardware, they’ll likely need another big effort from Rivers, who is averaging 30.2 points 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season.

Brett Comer, just one of five players who returned from last year’s team, is averaging 10.5 points, 6.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals thus far. Newcomers Austin Keel (14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds) and BillyDee Williams (10.4 points, 6.9 rebounds) have been the other big contributors for the Wildcats.

Winter Park plays its first game at the City of Palms Classic on Saturday night against Riverside Academy of Reserve, La. at 8:45 p.m.

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Lake Nona’s Kyle Herrera booted a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give the East a 20-17 come-from-behind win. Herrera also kicked a 32-yarder to close out the first half.

“I was already real nervous coming into it, then they tried to ice me twice,” Herrera said afterward. “I just threw my career on the line and put everything I had into it.”

East seniors watch as the ball clears the uprights. (Photo by Tim Citek)

Despite outgaining the West in total yards (326-207) the East seniors were forced to overcome six turnovers and a 17-7 deficit late in the second quarter before eventually pulling out the win.

The West built its lead by turning three of those turnovers into scores.

While trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter Edgewater’s Kelvon Davis forced a fumble, which put the West in position to tie the game. It wasn’t long before Bishop Moore quarterback Mike Calabro tucked the football and took off on a 30-yard touchdown run.

West Orange’s Marcus Isom went on to recover a fumble on a bad snap once the East regained possession, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Wekiva’s Kyle McGee. The West extended its lead with less than a minute to play in the second quarter when Wekiva’s Josh West jumped on a loose ball in the end zone following yet another fumble.

But while the West relied on the mistakes of its opponent, the East continued dusting itself off and feeding the ball to Lake Nona’s Jarius Pace and Winter Park’s Brandon Brown-Dukes out of the backfield.

The duo combined for eight carries of more than 10 yards on the night. When they weren’t fighting for extra yardage by making defenders miss by way of shifty moves, they were finding extra room to run thanks to an aggressive offensive line.

“It’s been a long time since I was able to get back in my groove and I felt like I was able to do that tonight,” said Pace, who missed much of the regular season due to injury. “God came through for me. The team came through. I’d like to give all the credit to the o-line for the outstanding blocking they did.”

Pace brushed off two fumbles to finish with 126 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also had a 45-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. Brown-Dukes took 12 carries for 61 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The celebration gets underway for the East seniors. (Photo by Tim Citek)

“It’s a great experience to play with and against all these guys from throughout Orange County, because some of these guys we’ve never had the chance to play against (during the regular season),” said Brown-Dukes.

It was his catch-and-run for a touchdown with 8:31 to go in the third quarter that tied the game at 17-17. Following a 31-yard reception by Winter Park’s Lee Dunnam, on a throw from East River quarterback Josh Jones, Brown-Dukes hauled in a pass while alone in the flat and reached the end zone on a 22-yard gain after sidestepping a defender inside the five-yard line.

“When I turned my head and looked up it was wide open,” Brown-Dukes said. “It’s all natural instinct from there. I just decided to take a jab-step inside and come back out.”

Pace scored the opening points of the night when he took a handoff up the middle and went four yards for the touchdown with 1:18 to go in the first quarter.

He got the scoring drive started on a pitch-out to the right, where he stiff-armed a defender and raced 52 yards down the West sideline. Positive gains by Brown-Dukes, Central Florida Christian Academy’s Karl Bourne and East River’s Michael Elder continued to move the chains before Pace punched it in for the score.

– More Orange County Senior Bowl Highlights –

– Lake Nona’s Chris Compton caught a 23-yard pass from University’s Kyle Sellers with 24 seconds left in the second quarter… Sellers and Josh Jones combined to go 9-of-21 for 139 yards passing for the East.

– Edgewater’s Kelvin Gunning and Wekiva’s Demarius Daniels each intercepted a pass… Olympia’s Josh Cunningham got to the quarterback for a sack during the final seconds of the first half… West Orange’s Diego Quintanar recovered a fumble with two minutes left in the game, but the West replied by going three-and-out.

– Gunning, Ocoee’s Darien Oliver and Edgewater’s Kelvon Davis were among those breaking up passes while West Orange’s Kellen Williams made multiple timely tackles.

– Bishop Moore quarterback Mike Calabro led the West in rushing with 65 yards on four carries… Calabro, Wekiva’s Greg Arnheim and Evans quarterback Dominique Tarver combined to go 7-of-20 for 63 yards passing… Ocoee’s Robenson Roche caught three passes for 18 yards.

– University’s Shane Berry made a clutch interception near the sideline on a pass inside the 10-yard line with a minute left in the second quarter… Winter Park’s Dominique Albert and Timber Creek’s Lavon Moten recorded sacks for the East.

– Stepping up to make big tackles for the East were Winter Park’s Matthew Moody, Lake Nona’s Alex Scott, Timber Creek’s Brandon Tyras, Freedom’s Colin Burke and Kavaris Green, and Colonial’s Larry McNeil and Chad Tajudeen… Colonial’s Ricky Gordon, Freedom’s David Gadson and Cypress Creek’s Nick Gonzalez broke up passes.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

Winter Park (4-1) won Saturday’s final over Orlando Christian Prep, the three-time reigning Class 1A champs, by a lopsided 74-40 score. It’s the third Rotary win in four years for the Wildcats, who defeated Dr. Phillips in the state finals last season 76-57.

Duke signee Austin Rivers was named the tournament’s most valuable player in front of a home crowd that included his NBA coaching dad, Doc Rivers. Rivers finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds against OCP.

But as impressive as the top-rated player in the nation proved to be, it was the way the Wildcats played as a team that impressed most. They won three-straight games at the event by an average of 30 points.

“We’ve made great strides as a team at this tournament,” Winter Park Coach David Bailey said. “People are coming together and accepting their roles.”

That teamwork showed in the Wildcats play on both the defensive end and while distributing the basketball. Winter Park held OCP to just two points in the first quarter and dished out 20 assists in all.

“When we move the ball like we have, it becomes very difficult to guard us,” Bailey said.

Winter Park entered the tournament coming off of a 102-92 win against Montverde Academy and a 76-55 loss to Miami Dr. Krop. On their home court for the first time this year, they made easy work of all challengers behind the play of Rivers, Brett Comer, Austin Keel and BillyDee Williams.

The Wildcats opened with an 81-43 win over Spruce Creek before handling Evans 74-55 in the semifinals. Lake Brantley finished third with a 52-42 win over Evans.

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Oak Ridge (8-3) is at Dr. Phillips (11-0), Winter Park (11-0) is at Seminole (9-2), and DeLand (9-2) is at Orange Park (7-4) in Class 6A games. Oviedo defeated Osceola 10-0 in Class 5A and hosts this week against Lakeland, who beat Hagerty 56-35. Bishop Moore (9-2) hosts two-time defending Class 2A champion Cocoa. Lake Highland Prep (9-2) defeated Fort Meyers Dunbar 20-6 in Class 2B and will host Island Coast.

Last week the season ended for a couple local teams. East River lost 27-7 on the road against Lakeland Lake Gibson in 5A and Jones lost to Cocoa 14-9.

In other action… South Daytona Warner Christian (11-0) defeated Orangewood Christian 60-6 in Class 1B. Daytona Beach Mainland lost to Orange Park 29-28 in Class 6A. The First Academy lost 42-20 against Jacksonville Trinity Christian in 2A.

All second round games begin at 7:30 p.m. Keep up with all the action at Varsity Sports, WFTV Channel 9 and Bright House Sports Network.

Below is a look back at last week’s first round involving state-ranked teams, with a little help from those that covered each game for the Orlando Sentinel.

– Class 6A –

Dr. Phillips 52, Olympia 3

The Panthers defeated Olympia for the fourth time over the past two seasons by building a 24-3 lead at halftime…

Wrote Kyle Hightower:

“Running back Demetrius Hart rushed for 118 yards and accounted for three touchdowns – two rushing, one receiving – to lead the Panthers… Quarterback Nick Patti was also spot-on, connecting on 5-of-8 passes for 181 yards and three scores. He also ran in another.”

Oak Ridge 34, Apopka 14

The Pioneers won their first playoff game since 1977 by getting out to a 28-7 lead at halftime…

Wrote Joe Williams:

“Dominating may not be a strong enough word to describe Oak Ridge in the first half. Oak Ridge had 286 yards of total offense to Apopka’s 53… Only a lapse on special teams allowed Apopka to score.”

Winter Park 35, Lake Brantley 21

Wildcats’ quarterback Sam Richardson got banged late in the first quarter while his team trailed by a touchdown, but returned to lead Winter Park to the win…

Wrote Buddy Collings:

“Winter Park again had difficulty holding a big fourth-quarter lead against Lake Brantley on Friday. But again the Wildcats were able to respond at crunch time. Undefeated Winter Park marched 80 yards to seal a 35-21 victory over the Patriots with an 8-yard touchdown run by Brandon Brown-Dukes with 1:44 remaining.”

Seminole 46, Timber Creek 14

The Seminoles took control late in the first half as T.J. Thompson passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns…

Wrote Carlos Pineda:

“The Seminoles broke away with 4 minutes, 37 seconds left in the second quarter when Ronnie Moore scored on a 53-yard run to give them a 17-7 lead.”

DeLand 6, Jacksonville Sandalwood 0

A touchdown run by Jo Jo Kemp in the first quarter, set up by a big interception return by De’Ante Saunders, held up for DeLand…

Wrote Craig Castille:

“LB Joe Herndon’s goalline interception on fourth down with 20 seconds remaining sealed a 6-0 victory for DeLand.”

– Class 4A –

Lakeland Kathleen 27, Edgewater 24

Edgewater could not hang on to a 23-12 lead at home with eight minutes remaining…

Wrote Bill Gronvold:

“A 92-yard pass play… with 1 minute, 12 seconds left Friday night lifted Lakeland Kathleen past host Edgewater. Aaron Baysdon caught the ball around midfield, broke two tackles and then ran the rest of the way for the score.”

– Class 2A –

Bishop Moore 25, Astronaut 7

The Hornets get the two-time defending state champs from Cocoa at home this week after getting out to a 25-0 lead on Friday…

Wrote Jeff Gardenour:

“Senior QB Mike Calabro passed for a TD and ran for another score, and Bishop Moore’s defense forced four turnovers in beating visiting Titusville Astronaut.”

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

On Friday a number of top-ranked teams from the Orlando area open the first round of the playoffs. With so much talent entered into the field, some intriguing matchups will get the postseason in motion.

– In Class 6A there are five local teams ranked in the state’s Top 10, led by No. 2 Dr. Phillips (10-0). No. 4 Winter Park (10-0), No. 5 Apopka (9-1), No. 9 East Ridge (8-2) and No. 10 Olympia (7-3) round out the list. East Ridge did not advance out of District 5.

This week Dr. Phillips hosts Olympia; Winter Park hosts No. 14 Lake Brantley (7-2); Apopka hosts Oak Ridge (7-3); No. 11 DeLand (8-2) hosts Jacksonville Sandalwood; and No. 13 Seminole (8-2) hosts Timber Creek (4-6).

– In Class 4A, No. 12 Edgewater (7-3) hosts Lakeland Kathleen. The Eagles won District 7 over second-year East River (9-1), who will be on the road against Lakeland Lake Gibson.

– In Class 2A, No. 5 Jones (9-1) is on the road against Cocoa while No. 6 Bishop Moore (8-2) hosts Titusville Astronaut. Bishop Moore won District 4 with a one-point win over the Tigers.

All games begin at 7:30 p.m. Keep up with all the action at Varsity Sports, WFTV Channel 9 and Bright House Sports Network.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

In Central Florida, UCF has a new head coach and is gearing up for a matchup with the University of Florida at the new Amway Center. But at the high school level, all eyes will be on Winter Park senior Austin Rivers, considered the top prep player in the nation.

Rivers has already committed to Duke University, where current Orlando Magic players J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon once starred. He also considered North Carolina and Kansas after previously pulling out on a verbal agreement to join the Gators. With the college recruiting process wrapped up, the son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers can now focus on defending the Wildcats’ Class 6A state title before going on to suit up for Mike Krzyzewski.

In the Oct. 18, 2010 edition of Sports Illustrated, Dan Patrick featured Doc in his Just My Type column and asked about Austin’s recent college decision.

Dan Patrick: … your son Austin has committed to Duke. Did Coach K have to recruit you, as well as your son?

Doc Rivers: No, not really. I know Coach K, and I knew Roy Williams (UNC) and Bill Self (KU) and Billy Donovan (UF), so it was almost an uncomfortable… . It was not uncomfortable—it was different, when they come into your house and they’re selling their program. I go on a golf trip every year with Roy Williams, and he comes into my house with a suit and tie on. And I’m laughing! It was pretty interesting to watch, to actually watch guys you know do their job. So it was different. I’ll put it that way.

Patrick: What did Austin say your role was going to be when they came to the house?

Rivers: Be quiet! No, you know what we did? We had dinner with each guy, each coach and his assistants. And we’d just sit around the table and talk basketball and every other thing. And I thought it gave Austin a chance to see every coach as a human being, because I don’t know if we’re viewed as that when we’re coaching.

It won’t be long before Rivers and Redick are someday sharing stories of their experiences playing for the Blue Devils.

“I’ve always said that Duke is for some people and it’s not for other people, and Duke was the perfect fit for me,” said Redick just days before Rivers made his decision a month ago.

“I relished the challenge of playing there. It’s a challenge. You’re going to get every team’s best shot. Every practice is a challenge and you’re going to have to be on your game everyday and for me that was perfect. I loved that. I just had the most incredible experience there.”

He says he still very close to Coach K and the teammates he played with at Duke.

“Even the guys I didn’t play with, it’s like a fraternity,” he said. “If I see Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer, those guys, it’s like we played together because we played at Duke.”

Winter Park opens up the season with practices beginning on Nov. 1.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

Follow along to the high school football season at Bright House Sports Network, Varsity Sports and WFTV Channel 9.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

– Photos by Randy Settle –

If you were unable to catch the Elite 24 High School All-Star Game broadcast from Venice Beach, Calif. this past Saturday, you missed out on an MVP performance from Winter Park High School senior Austin Rivers.

The son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers led Team Marques Johnson with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists despite landing awkwardly on his right arm in the second half. Rivers returned to the game after icing his wrist, but came out on the losing end against Team Raymond Lewis 131-128.

Austin Rivers (Photo by Scott Kurtz, ESPN RISE)

The game featured seven of the top seniors on ESPNU’s Top-100 list and three of the nations top-rated juniors. Rivers, who moved to No. 1 overall this week, was the only participant from the Sunshine State but found himself one-on-one against a University of Florida recruit.

After coming up empty on his first attempt from the field and grabbing a rebound on the offensive end, Rivers managed to get going by splitting two defenders and gliding midair towards the hoop, where he finished with an underhanded shot off the backboard just three minutes in.

Moments later, he drained a 3-pointer while Missouri’s Bradley Beal, verbally committed to Florida, had a hand in his face. On the other end of the floor Rivers grabbed a rebound, pushed up court and dished off to fellow co-MVP James McAdoo, a Virginia product committed to North Carolina, for his first assist.

Later in the half Rivers got an easy put-back off a rebound, then drove to the hole against Beal and another defender to finish with a finger roll before getting back on defense to recoup yet another missed shot.

The battle with Beal, No. 5 at ESPNU, was just getting started though as Rivers blocked two of Beal’s shots in the opening minute of the second half then coasted through the lane for an uncontested layup.

Rivers blew past Beal twice off the dribble a few minutes later while attacking the basket, not long before going down with an injury when he was caught off balance midair while reaching up for an inbound pass. He returned to the game with 9:40 to play and scored on a breakaway two-handed dunk. Still in noticeable pain, Rivers resorted to the left hand for his final highlight when he put a spin move on Beal and banked a shot off the backboard for a bucket as a few minutes remained.

Last season Rivers, listed at 6-foot-4 and 189 pounds, was named the ESPN RISE National Junior Player of the Year after averaging 24.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for Winter Park’s Class 6A state title team. ESPN lists his current college choices as Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, Florida and UCLA.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –