Girls basketball: Ocoee earns big road victory at Olympia -- Observer Preps

by Jean Racine | Correspondent

LAKE BUTLER The Ocoee Knights girls basketball team pulled away from the Olympia Titans in the fourth quarter of a contest between two of Central Florida's best programs, defeating the Titans 68-58.

“We ran into a team that really wanted to beat us tonight,” Olympia coach Robert Carmody said. “They played just as hard, if not harder, than us. They really wanted to win and they came into our gym and they got it." 

The loss for Olympia (9-4) represented the team's first home loss of the season.

Ocoee (12-4) forced the Titans to turn the ball over 26 times. The Knights were led in scoring by senior Dynasty Carter, who scored 24 points, with many of Carter’s points coming in transition.

“What we love about Dynasty is how she gets out on that fast-break,” Ocoee coach Gina Solano said. “She’s a good leader on the floor — she runs the show, offensively, for us."

Olympia senior Briana Richardson hit a game-high six three-pointers and scored 22 points, overall. 

“It’s a shame that (Richardson’s) offense went to waste,” Carmody said. “But, I thought we played a lot of stagnant offense at times … too many 50/50 passes. But Bri [Richardson] plays hard — she’s had a really good senior year.”

Ocoee senior Ariel Colon had a well-rounded game that included ball-handling duties and a couple big shots down the stretch to help ice the victory for the Knights.

“Ariel Colon always brings it every game — (she is) very athletic, gets rebounds for us, makes shots for us, handles the basketball,” Solano said. “I think that’s the luxury we have — and having (Akila Smith) in the middle of the paint, so we know we can be more aggressive in the zone."