Defense helps Windermere boys upend No. 4 Olympia basketball

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Cole White burned Olympia’s defense for 22 points and nine rebounds Tuesday, and the Windermere Wolverines rolled past SBLive Florida's No. 4 Olympia, 66-51, in a Region 2-7A boys basketball semifinal.

Chalier Torres added 15 points for the Wolverines (21-8, No. 22 in the SBLive Florida Power 25, No. 4 seed in Region 2), who earned revenge for a 70-67 loss at Olympia (26-2, No. 1 seed) on Jan. 27.

Their reward? Another chance at revenge at third-seeded Oak Ridge on Friday with a Final Four berth on the line. Oak Ridge ousted second-seeded Lake Worth 79-64 on the road. Oak Ridge owns two victories against Windermere – a 62-56 win on Dec. 3 and a 70-55 win in a District 5-7A semifinal.

The Wolverines harassed Olympia both high and low. They forced 14 Titans turnovers, scoring 14 points off the miscues. Torres and Isaiah Dorceus each had two steals.

Windermere held Cincinnati signee Jizzle James to 16 points, seven points below his average. They held him to five second-half points, but they also held Cam Miles to zero second-half points after Miles scored 12 in the first half.

“One person cannot stop (Jizzle) James,” Windermere coach Mark Griseck said. “It took a team effort, and we talked about a strategy. The guys did a really good job. He is a really good player.”

The game resembled a heavyweight fight, with both teams hammering the other. Windermere dealt Olympia the final blow, holding the Titans without a field goal for a 5:21 stretch in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines outscored the Titans 10-1 in that stretch, turning a 48-45 lead into a 58-46 advantage. White had six points in that run.

“We had to come with different energy, just attack them as much as we can and get open shots and kick out for wide-open threes,” White said.

Dorceus also had 10 points and five assists. Many of those assists came after Ta’Veon Jones escaped several Olympia traps.

“We came out ready to play. We knew if we locked in, we were going to be able to beat them,” Dorceus said. “(Jones) is our backbone. When he wants to score, he’ll do it. When he plays D, he’ll get steals. He’ll do it all.”

Jones and Dorceus often drove cross-court into the lane, drawing Olympia’s defense. They would then pass toward the basket to an open White or Torres.

“We had a hard time containing those guys tonight,” Olympia coach Rob Gordon said. “The first time we played them, we did a good job containing them. Our guarding angles were pretty poor tonight. They took advantage of some poor guarding angles and really exposed us. I like to think we are a strong, defensive-oriented team, but they really exposed us defensively tonight. Those guys are good. There’s not a quicker guy in Central Florida, maybe in the state, than their little guard (Jones).”

The 6-foot-7 White, 6-2 Torres and 6-7 T.J. Drain held their own against Olympia 6-foot-5 Kevins Charles and 6-9 Jackson Outlaw. They held Outlaw to eight points and eight rebounds and Charles to 6 points and two rebounds. Griseck said his big men succeeded against Olympia’s big men in their previous matchup, and they did the same Tuesday.

“They definitely have some really good bigs,” White said. “We just outworked them.”

Olympia jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first quarter. But Torres and White cut the Titans’ lead to 19-15 by the end of the first quarter.

Windermere then went on an 18-4 run to start the second quarter, building a 10-point lead when White’s bucket put the Wolverines up 33-23.

Miles then hit two 3-pointers and James went 5 for 5 from the free-throw line in the final 1:31 to put the Titans up 34-33 at halftime. Olympia went 13 of 13 from the free-throw line in the first half, including James’ 3 for 3 after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.

Both teams traded the lead several times in the third. But Dorceus hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Windermere held Olympia scoreless the final 2:48 to snag a 46-43 lead entering the fourth quarter.

After Torres’ hit two free throws, James hit a jumper with 7:05 left. White then hit two buckets to ignite the clinching 10-1 run. With 4:19 left, the Wolverines spread their offense, milking several minutes off the clock and drawing fouls.

When James fouled out with 50.8 seconds left, Olympia fans gave the Cincinnati signee cheers of thanks.

Gordon said the seniors made history. James, Kevins Charles and Outlaw played as freshmen, and Miles, Chaunce Harris, David Dupuis also played roles in a senior class that went 84-28.

“This group of seniors has produced the most successful time in Olympia basketball history,” Gordon said. “We’ve never ever won two district championships. We never won one district championship before this group came through.

“We’ve never been to three straight Sweet 16s in the history. Outside of 2009, this program had not won a playoff game until this senior class came through. We got to the Sweet 16. We just can’t quite get over that hurdle. The accomplishments of the senior class is unparalleled in our program’s history.”