Buying In: Ocoee girls basketball off to 6-2 start in the 2021 season

After a lackluster 2020-21 season, second-year Ocoee girls basketball coach Marcus Spencer knew it was time to get back to the drawing board. 

With a 3-17 record in his first year as head coach, Spencer knew things had to change heading into the 2021-22 season. It had been a difficult year with COVID-19 ravaging the team at various points, but a new season presented a chance for a new beginning.

That gave birth to the slogan that would be a mantra for the team. It’s even printed on plain white T-shirts — black for the players as they warm up before the games. 

Change the culture. 

“We want to be a much better, improved team,” Spencer said. “Being much better at understanding the game and playing hard for one another.” 

So far, that seems to be paying off; the team is off to a strong start to the 2021 season with six wins. During the Metro West Conference basketball tournament at Wekiva, ranked as the eighth seed, Ocoee took fifth in the tournament and defeated teams from Olympia, Evans, and Lake Minneola. 

“We implemented a new system, and it takes time, but now the (players) are starting to see some success,” Spencer said. “We’re into it, they’re excited. … We haven’t been 5-1 in a while. In the Metro West tournament, we beat three teams that beat us last year and kind of blew the doors off us. That was one of those wow moments for us.”

The team’s strong performance out the gate has attracted attention from around the school community. 

“I have former coaches and even Coach Sheppard (the football coach) calling me and saying, ‘You guys are rocking; what are you doing?’” Spencer said. 

Players such as senior guard Christa Sistrunk have been through a lot the last couple of years. Sistrunk was formerly looked at as a player with a bit of attitude not just on the court but also with former coaches too. However, this year, she said she has broken away from that mindset.

“I want to be the best player that I can be — and not having an attitude,” Sistrunk said, the leading scorer for Ocoee so far this season. “So far, things have been good with the team. We’re a well-oiled machine so far.” 

Prior to the game against West Orange Dec. 2, senior guard Jasmyne Wright needed only two points to reach a career total of 1,000 points, which would make her the second Ocoee player to reach that milestone. Wright spent her first three years with Orlando Christian Prep before transferring to Ocoee. 

With any player, but especially a senior, adjusting to playing a whole new system and with new teammates is hard — especially for one year. However, Wright, has accepted the challenge with a positive attitude, and it seems to be rubbing off on her teammates. 

“I’ve been meshing with the group; they’re super welcoming to me from the get-go,” Wright said. “It’s a good group of girls.” 

Compared to previous coaches, she finds herself working harder under Spencer, but it’s a welcome change.

“I was captain last year on my team, and the coach would let me do whatever I wanted,” she said. “He would just stay on the sideline, but with Coach Spencer, he’s a bit more hands-on with us, I would say. Like, we’d do one play, but then he’d yell out to do another play.”

During the game with the Warriors, Wright had several opportunities to grab those two points but could not get her shots to fall early on. Every time she took a shot, the anticipation would rise until the ball stayed out of the hoop. 

For a while, it seemed like it wasn’t needed; both teams were playing a tight first half. Then came her first of two foul shots in the second quarter. With a calm, cool composure, Wright nailed both foul shots to give the Knights the edge. 

Spencer stopped the game for a few moments to honor Wright for her achievement. The crowd gave her a standing ovation, which left Wright visibly emotional. 

“It’s great; I didn’t think I would get it,” Wright said. “It’s a huge milestone, an accomplishment that not many can have, especially girls, and would be something I can tell people later.” 

Ocoee ended up losing the game to West Orange 44-30, but that did not dampen the team’s spirits. It’s just another step toward the ultimate goal for the team at the end of the year. 

“We have a good possibility of making it to regionals,” Wright said. 

But first up is the district tournament. Ocoee plays in the highly competitive Class 7A, District 4, and Spencer said capturing the district crown would turn more than a few heads.

“It would blow the roof right off,” Spencer said. 

As the Knights prepare to face Oak Ridge Dec. 9, they will be using all they have learned to continue this run toward the district playoffs and maybe — just maybe — the state tournament.