Lake Mary, Lake Howell Boys Basketball Teams Capture Regional Titles, Advance to Final Four

Fans from both sides rushed the floor before anyone knew who had won. A clock review settled the question: Lake Mary had captured its first-ever boys regional championship in basketball, and the Rams were headed to Jacksonville.

Both Lake Mary and Lake Howell secured regional crowns last week and will compete in the 2026 FHSAA Boys Basketball Championships at the University of North Florida.

Owen Cenoya led Lake Mary's effort with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Tyler Schenck contributed nine points and nine rebounds, and Jacoby Osbourne added eight. Justice Bracero chipped in five points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Jamarius Jones provided two points, three rebounds and four blocked shots in a game that ended in confusion before the replay confirmed the Rams' historic win.

Lake Howell, homestanding and top-seeded at 25-5, had its own postseason drama to navigate. The Silver Hawks outlasted Tocoi Creek, 82-77, in double overtime in the Class 6A-Region 1 Semifinals. Tocoi Creek entered that game at 23-5. Junior Hayden Dzenutis scored 11 points for Lake Howell, which held a 20-15 second-quarter lead at one point. Six-foot-nine senior Ethan Diaz had six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, and 6-7 senior Isaac Buckley contributed eight points and six rebounds.

At UNF on Friday, Lake Mary, making its first boys basketball state tournament appearance, faces top-ranked Columbus at 1 p.m. Second-ranked Oak Ridge, making its sixth Final Four appearance under coach Steve Reece in his nine-year tenure, plays Sarasota at 3 p.m. The Pioneers won the state championship in 2018 and were runners-up in 2024. Saturday's schedule opens with the 6A boys final, followed by the 6A girls final at 2:30 p.m., the 7A boys final at 5 p.m. and the 7A girls final at 7:30 p.m.

Two Seminole County programs. One historic first. The road now runs through Jacksonville.