The first regional all-classification rankings for boys basketball will be released later this week. The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 Florida High School Athletic Association teams across 26 counties.
He are the top FHSAA teams in the area, according to MaxPreps’ top 50 Florida teams, including overall record through Dec. 30, results from holiday tournaments (Dec. 27-30), state rankings & how did they last year.
Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-2) – Stallions are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A & 6th overall in Florida; Went 2-1 at the Battle of the Villages – d. The Villages, 60-58, to finish third; lost to 2A #1 Miami Christian, 76-74 (OT), in Semifinals; d. Sussex-Hamilton (WI), 62-50, in opening game; lost at P.K. Yonge at the buzzer in last year’s 4A regional semifinals.
Mainland (Daytona Beach) (7A) (15-1) – ranked 7th overall in Florida & No. 1 in Class 7A by MaxPreps; went 3-0 at the Buc Paradise Christmas Classic – d. Lake Nona, Jupiter & Miami NW; have won 14 in a row since 57-49 OT loss to 8A #6 Edgewater (Orlando) in 2nd game of the season; lost to Hillsborough in last year’s 7A regional final.
Hawthorne (1A) (10-1) – Hornets are 15th overall according to MaxPreps & #1 in Class 1A; went 3-1 at the Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala) – d. Coral Springs Charter, NFEI (Jacksonville), lost to Boilingbrook (Illinois), 62-54, & d. 8A Plant City; lost at Madison County in last year’s 1A regional final.
University Christian (4A) (12-2) – ranked 21st overall by MaxPreps & 3rd in Class 4A; Went 3-0 to win the Palatka Christmas Tournament, defeating 6A #9 Palatka, 54-53 (OT), in the championship game; d. Crescent City, 64-31, in the semifinals; also beat 8A #8 Fleming Island, 51-49, in the championship game of their holiday tournament; did not make the postseason last year.
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (4A) (10-1) – Blue Wave are ranked 23rd overall in Florida & No. 4 in 4A; went 3-1 to finish Runners-Up at the Hitchcock’s Challenge – lost to defending 7A state champion Doral Academy in the championship game; d. 7A #9 Belen Jesuit (Miami), 7A Gainesville & handed 6A Santa Fe (Alachua) its first loss of the year, 64-56 (OT); lost to Master’s Academy (Oviedo) in last year’s 4A state semifinals.
Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (9-1) – ranked 33rd overall & 8th in Class 8A; only loss was to University Christian (Jacksonville), 51-49, in the Battle of the Island championship game on 12/22, snapping their 9-game win streak which represented one of their best starts in school history; Golden Eagles did not make the playoffs last year.
Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (11-2) – ranked 36th overall and 4th in Class 5A; went 2-1 at the Jim Clark Classic at Bishop Moore (Orlando); lost to 6A #1 Bishop Moore, 63-29, in the championship game; Bulldogs had a 60-41 win in the semifinals over Class A #1 ranked Bishop McGuiness of NC; ‘Dogs lost at Pensacola Catholic in last year’s Class 5A regional final.
Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-1) – ranked 41st overall and 2nd in Class 2A; went 1-1 at the Palm Beach Gardens Holiday Classic – d. Cape Fear Christian Academy (NC) & lost to Brewbaker Tech (AL); lost to Miami Christian in last year’s Class 2A state championship game
Leesburg (6A) (8-4) – DEFENDING CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPS; ranked 45th overall & 7th in Class 6A; Yellow Jackets went 2-1 to finish runner-up at the Florida Prospect Christmas Tournament; lost to 8A Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens) in the championship game.
Madison County (1A) (8-0) – ranked 47th overall & 2nd in Class 1A behind Hawthorne; went 3-0 to win the Bronson Christmas Tournament; lost to eventual state champion Wildwood by 2 in last year’s state semifinals.
Palatka (6A) (8-2) – Panthers are 50th overall in Florida & ranked 9th in Class 6A; went 2-1 at their holiday tournament – d. Cornerstone Christian, 8A Royal Palm Beach, & lost to University Christian, 54-53 (OT), in the championship game; lost to Rickards (Tallahassee) in last year’s 6A state semifinals.
