Boy's Basketball | 2/25/2025 4:11:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant, SC – It was a disappointing end to what was a very special season for the Oceanside Collegiate Academy boys' basketball team on Tuesday night at the OCA gym.
After rolling off a 19-game win streak, the No. 1 ranked Landsharks picked the wrong time to have an off night on the court against a very talented Keenan High team, falling to the Raiders 50-36 in the Lower State semifinal game.
Oceanside finished its season with a 23-2 record and an extremely appreciative head coach.
OCA coach
Quinton Hollis had the most challenging yet rewarding season of his eight seasons leading the Landsharks' basketball program. In December he lost his daughter Braylen after a long battle against leukemia while, at the same time, having to deal with his own cancer diagnosis for multiple myeloma.
The hashtags #DoItForQ and #WeAllEat came to symbolize the sense to togetherness and community that grew around the OCA basketball team as the wins piled up and the support increased in his battle against cancer.
On Tuesday, Keenan (20-8) was able to take advantage of a size advantage to create scoring opportunities off missed shots on the offensive end while the Landsharks struggled to find their normal outside shooting success.
"It just wasn't out night tonight," Hollis told members of the media following the game. "We missed 10 free throws and shot just 2-of-12 from three. We gave up offensive rebounds all night. It just doesn't seem possible for a team that was 22-1 to come out and score just 36 points when we have been scoring that many in a quarter."
Despite the offensive struggles, the Landsharks were down just 23-16 at the half, and closed the gap to 29-28 at the end of the third quarter, but in the final period the missed free throws and Keenan's dominance on the boards turned the game toward the visiting Raiders.
After Keenan opened the final quarter with a 5-0 run, the Landsharks battled back to within 34-32. Keenan answered with a 7-0 run to go up by nine, and Oceanside never recovered.
An emotional Hollis looked past the pain of the loss to all his team meant to him during the season.
"This group means everything to me," Hollis said. "They saved my life during this season, and I really believe that. Every week I have looked forward to coaching these games. I have a hard fight left, but I will deal with that. I appreciate everything these kids have done for me. This community and these fans have been here for every game and have supported me with all the 'Do It For Q' signs.
"Everything has been overwhelming, and I appreciate it all so much."
The Landsharks, who placed five players on the All-Region team, including Region Player of the Year
Gabriel Riesgo-Rivera, say goodbye to five seniors –
Tyrek Dawson (All-Region),
Carson Jones (two-time All-Region), Riesgo-Rivera,
Drew Swyt and
Moises Martinez - following this season, will have two-time All-Region performer
Jake Thomas and All-Region standout
Abe Davinroy returning next year along with a host of other talented players to make another run at a state title.
If all goes according to plan, the six-time Region Coach of the Year also plans to return next year to lead the Landsharks.
About Oceanside Collegiate Academy: Oceanside Collegiate Academy (OCA), located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while earning up to two years of college credit. OCA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades
Learn more about OCA by visiting our website at OceansideCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and X. For video content, visit our YouTube channel.
