Boys Basketball State Semifinals
All games at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Admission is $15 on the day of the event. Parking is $10.
Class 2A
Tampa SLAM (23-7) vs. Orlando Christian Prep (24-7), 7 tonight
How they got here: Tampa SLAM d. Southwest Florida Christian 76-35, d. Naples St. John Neumann 74-26, d. Lakeside Christian 89-45. Orlando Christian Prep d. Halifax Academy 82-42, d. North Tampa Christian 65-48, d. Lakeland Victory Christian 69-52.
Stat Leaders
| Category | Tampa SLAM | Orlando Christian Prep |
| Points per game | Ramone Seals, 17.8 | Isaiah Brown, 16.2 |
| Rebounds per game | Rmone Seals, 5.9 | Marc Ekiri, 9.2 |
| Assists per game | Daniel MacGregor, 6.8 | Ameer Ramadan, 3.8 |
| Steals per game | Daniel MacGregor, 2.9 | Isaiah Brown, 1.9 |
| Blocks per game | Willie Piggott, 1.3 | Jemeh Jones, 0.5 |
Outlook
This is a rematch from last year’s 2A state semifinal that Orlando Christian Prep won 44-28.
The Warriors advanced to the title game, losing by a point to Sagemont to end their three-year reign as state champions.
Despite coming up short in last year’s state semifinals, Tampa SLAM has confidence this time around. After all, the Spartans held Orlando Christian Prep to its lowest point total of the season last year.
That is not all. Tampa SLAM also has plenty of momentum with 10 straight wins, all by 20 or more points.
“Last year was an experience,” Spartans coach Brian Reeves said. “Now we know what to expect playing in a bigger arena with different 3-point lines on the floor. The guys understand the opponent and are ready to go.”
Three of Tampa SLAM’s top five scorers return from last season, including leading scorer Ramone Seals. The Spartans also were bolstered by the addition of two transfers — Daniel MacGregor (Calvary Christian) and Adrian Moore (Largo).
Getting past the state semifinal hurdle will still be a challenge. Orlando Christian Prep enters on a seven-game win streak, all by double digits.
Player spotlight
Ramone Seals, Sr., Tampa SLAM
The three-star recruit, ranked as the 14th-best player in the 2024 class by MaxPreps, is the son of Ray Seals, who played eight seasons in the NFL, including with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ramone has set nearly every record at the school. This season, he leads the Spartans in points (17.8) and rebounds (5.9) per game and was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
