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Raiders on both ends of thrilling finishes

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 1/26/22

ORANGE PARK - Orange Park High basketball finished on the good side and the bad side of thrilling finishes over the weekend with a fast and furious set of fourth quarters; two three pointers from …

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Raiders on both ends of thrilling finishes


Posted

ORANGE PARK - Orange Park High basketball finished on the good side and the bad side of thrilling finishes over the weekend with a fast and furious set of fourth quarters; two three pointers from Deandre Dickerson the dagger in the heart reversing a three-quarter upset attempt by Oakleaf High School while, just a day later, a five-point fourth quarter lead evaporated with a buzzer-beater loss to Tallahassee Lincoln.

“It was just adrenaline at work,” said Dickerson, after his two three pointers decided an as-anticipated close game with Oakleaf; 58-53 to Orange Park. “Coach just told us to play our game and keep the pressure on them. We knew they were coming to beat us and it was going to be physical. I just slowed things down in my head and took the shots.”

Against Lincoln, the toll of the Friday clash may have been a small factor as the Raiders fourth quarter surge to a five point lead was quickly erased to give Lincoln a buzzer beat win, 45-44.

“Mistakes, simple mistakes,” said Orange Park coach Derek Kurnitsky, after his top rated 5A Raiders let Lincoln, ninth-ranked in Class 6A, score a buzzer beater victory to drop the Raiders to 17-3 for the season. “It’s a lot to put on a bunch of teenagers, but it is what it is.”

Just a day earlier, less than 24 hours prior, the Raiders had to withstand an outstanding 21-point, three block shot night from Oakleaf center Keyshawn Riley to overcome a two-point gap at the end of three quarters to eek out that rivalry win.

“We knew that was going to be a big game on both sides,” said Kurnitsky. “Just throw the records out because they were coming to make a mark. They nearly did, but our entire bench came through. They were missing some guys that could have turned the game also.”

For Oakleaf coach Jason Price, without two key players; Dylan Lewis, a senior playmaker and Honrae Murray, a fast-moving wingman, the game showed his team the level they need to play to succeed in the upcoming district tournament.

“The rest of the games really came together to battle and came together tonight,” said Price, now 10-11 and facing one of the toughest district tournaments in north Florida with Creekside, Mandarin and Sandalwood all formidable foes with Creekside, Sandalwood and Oakleaf all in the top 50 rankings of Class 7A. “Keyshaun is the emotion leader of this team. Just the energy he brings at his 6’-2” stature is inspiring. It’s beautiful to watch. He spills his guys out on the court.”

For Riley, the special challenge of defending Orange Park’s Josiah Sabino, a signee to NCAA Div. I Jacksonville University, was more than enough motivation to bring his A game.

“Me and Cameron (Coachman) were going to play hard and fast early and try to make it to the end of the game,” said Riley, who got a tough layup in the fourth quarter to close the game to two points. “That’s the best feeling in the world; just to provide for my team.”

The exciting weekend only exasperates an upcoming second Clay County rivalry extravaganza as the Raiders, on Thurs., Jan. 27, travel to Fleming Island to take on the 18-1 Golden Eagles.

“They will probably beat us by 30,” said Kurnitsky with some coyness.

Against Oakleaf, with the Knights banging the Raiders “Chuck N Duck” offense assault with formidable paint presence from Riley and 6’-4” forward Cameron Coachman and finishing three quarters up by two points, 38-36, the makings of a classic Clay County rivalry finish seemed inevitable.

Two free throws from Orange Park forward Jeremiah Gabriel tied the game at 38-38 to start the action for one of the best fourth quarters of basketball in recent RaiderDome history.

At 42-40 with six minutes to go, Oakleaf guard David Compere, who quietly hit for 22 points, missed a three pointer that started a Dickerson to Sabino breakaway that saw Sabino can a three pointer in front of the Raider cheerleaders to put Orange Park on top 43-42.

Sabino would bucket another layup to 45-42 to force an Oakleaf time out to catch their breath.

“We pulled the starter out just before the end of the third period to gas up the tank for a strong fourth quarter,” said Kurnitsky. “We wear them down, our bench is just as strong and we come out firing.”

W?ith both teams approaching the crucial seven team foul point late in the game, the aggressivenent on the floor was not waning as bodies start to fly for loose balls.

Oakleaf guard Sean Jones got tied up by Orange Park’s Averie Grayson to force a travel call on the Oakleaf baseline at 5:14.

Gabriel would land his own three pointer with three minutes on the clock to 48-44 before Riley answered with a possible three-point play under the glass off a layup and free throw to close the gap back to one, 48-47 at 3:28, as both teams were now with seven team fouls.

On the next comeback down the court Dickerson sliced to the far corner opposite the Raider bench and sent the RaiderDome into a frenzy with the first of his two late three pointers with 3:03 to go; 51-46.

A Compere miss had Orange Park hustling back down the court where Dickerson let fly with his second three; this one in front of the Raider bench to send the game to 54-46 just 25 seconds later.

“I told them to keep shooting and not get lazy at the end because coach Price was going to put them into one more final surge,” said Kurnitsky. “Chuck N Duck is a shooting mentality.”

In the final 2:35, 54-46 for the Raiders, Oakleaf indeed put the foot on the gas pedal for one final push with 40 seconds and the Raiders up 57-48.

Orange Park is back on the court Tues., Jan. 25 with Bartram Trail in the RaiderDome before the Fleming Island clash at Fleming Island with Nease (15-5), Trinity Christian and Bolles finishing the regular season.

Oakleaf hosts Creekside (11-5) on Mon., Jan. 24 with Bradford and Clay to finish the regular season.