Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show*
‘Live’ audio: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/sports/live-stream/
Join Mike Ridaught & Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from your locally owned Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Their guests for this episode include Hawthorne girls basketball coach Cornelius Ingram and members of the 2-time FHSAA Class 1A state champion Lady Hornets’ basketball team.
Eustis closes in on No. 1 Baldwin
GAINESVILLE — The hold on the No. 1 spot in The Prep Zone Power Poll has loosened for the Baldwin softball team.
The Indians, who finished 25-5 last year and made a run all the way to the Class 3A state semifinals, are still on top of the all-classification regional rankings thanks to a 13-0 start.
Baldwin, which is ranked 8th overall in Florida and No. 1 in Class 3A in the first FHSAA rankings of the spring released last week, received six of the nine first-place votes to remain first.
However, Eustis picked up the other three first-place votes and now trails Baldwin by just three total voting points (177-174).
The Panthers, who finished 19-6 last year with a loss to eventual state champion Lake Wales, 7-6, in the Class 4A-Region 2 Semifinals, are ranked fifth overall in Florida and No. 1 in Class 4A in the FHSAA rankings.
Pitching has carried Baldwin, which has 10 shutouts in 13 games, while Eustis has relied on its offense, scoring 140 runs in 12 games (11.7 runs per game). Baldwin averages 10.5 runs per game.
Episcopal (Jacksonville), which is ranked second in 3A and 16th overall is fourth, followed by 3A #3 Montverde Academy, and 5A No. 1 Middleburg, which is ranked 9th in Florida, in the top five.
Another Duval County team, defending 2A state champion University Christian (Jacksonville), leads off the second five at No. 6.
The Class 2A No. 3 Christians are followed by Creekside (St. Johns), Gainesville and Spruce Creek (Port Orange) who are tied for eighth, and Trenton and Fort White, who are tied for 10th.
GHS (12-1) had an 11-game winning streak snapped but avenged its only loss, a 16-5 setback to rival Buchholz, with a 2-1 win at home against Suwannee (Live Oak) last Thursday.
Trenton and Fort White, who are tied for 10th, meet tonight in Class 1A No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in Trenton.
Class 1A No. 6 Williston (9-7) remained 20th and is tied with 7A Flagler Palm Coast, which is new to the rankings.
Previous No. 19 Ponte Vedra (8-6) fell out of the rankings after a 2-3 record since the last poll, while Class 3A Crystal River (8-2) moved in at No. 19.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024 SOFTBALL POLL #3
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 3/30, and total voting points)
1. Baldwin (3A) (6) (13-0) – 177
2. Eustis (4A) (3) (12-0) – 174
3. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (13-1) – 159
4. Montverde Academy (3A) (14-3) – 145
5. Middleburg (5A) (12-1) – 141
6. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-3) – 127
7. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (12-2) – 114
8T. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (9-2) – 106
8T. Gainesville (6A) (12-1) – 106
10T. Fort White (1A) (8-2) – 92
10T. Trenton (1A) (11-1) – 92
12. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (9-3) – 87
13. Deltona (5A) (8-3) – 69
14. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (10-2) – 60
15. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (10-4) – 58
16. Branford (1A) (14-3) – 55
17. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (8-2) – 49
18. West Nassau (Callahan) (3A) (5-4) – 29
19. Crystal River (3A) (8-2) – 11
20T. Williston (1A) (9-7) – 7
20T. Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (8-4) – 7
Also receiving votes: Newberry (1A) (10-2) – 6; Hernando Christian Academy (2A) (9-0) – 5; Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-4) – 5; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (9-4) – 4; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (7-3) – 3; Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (9-4) – 1; Suwannee (Live Oak) (3A) (7-6) – 1.
Nationally-ranked Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) new No. 1
GAINESVILLE – The high school baseball season is off and running and heading towards the final month of the regular season.
Meanwhile, there has already been a switch at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) moves into the No. 1 spot this week.
The Conquerors (10-1) picked up wins over No. 11 Clay (Green Cove Springs), then-No. 6 Providence (Jacksonville), North Marion (Citra), and Ponte Vedra and has won 10 in a row since losing their opening game to Sam Houston (LA).
Trinity Christian, which is ranked No. 1 in 3A, 2nd overall statewide, & 23rd nationally by MaxPreps, received five of the eight first-place votes this week.
The other three first-place votes go to the former No. 1 team, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park).
The Spartans (9-2) dropped to No. 2 despite being ranked No. 1 in 2A and No. 7 overall statewide by MaxPreps.
St. Johns Country Day did lose two games in the last two weeks, to No. 1 overall statewide IMG Academy (Bradenton) and RV Oakleaf (Orange Park). The Spartans did pick up a second win of the season against No. 4 Buchholz (Gainesville).
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) moves up two spots to 3rd.
The Crusaders (9-2), Class 4A state runners-up last year, picked up wins over Mandarin (Jacksonville), Sandalwood (Jacksonville), and Bartram Trail (St. Johns), with their only loss in that span to Buchholz, 1-0.
Buchholz moved up three spots to No. 4.
The Class 6A Bobcats (8-3) lost to St. Johns Country Day for the second time this year, but beat Bishop Kenny and trounced No. 10 Forest (Ocala), 21-6.
Class 7A Spruce Creek (Port Orange) rounds out the top five.
The Hawks (10-3) defeated RV Creekside (St. Johns), Killian (Miami), and DeLand and dropped games to Merritt Island and New Smyrna Beach.
Newberry (12-1) starts off the second five.
The Panthers, 1A state semifinalists last year, moved up four spots from the previous poll as they went 6-0 with wins over 1A No. 2 and No. 20 overall Bozeman (Panama City Beach), 1A No. 5 Holmes County (Bonifay), and 1A No. 13 Chipley as well as Williston twice and Trenton.
Bolles (Jacksonville) is No. 7 this week, followed by two teams tied for 8th with Lafayette (Mayo) and Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine).
Forest (10-2) rounds out the top 10.
New to the poll this week are Fleming Island (Orange Park), which is tied for 15th with Providence and 20th-ranked Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville).
Dropping out from the previous poll are Baldwin and First Coast (Jacksonville).
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL POWERED BY ANYTIME FITNESS OF GAINESVILLE – 2024 BASEBALL POLL #2
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, final 2023 record, 2024 record through 3/25, and total voting points)
1. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (5) (10-1) – 156
2. St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (2A) (3) (9-2) – 153
3. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (9-2) – 137
4. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (8-3) – 125
5. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (10-3) – 124
6. Newberry (1A) (12-1) – 119
7. Bolles (Jacksonville) (3A) (10-4) – 111
8T. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (9-1) – 87
8T. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (11-2) – 87
10. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (10-2) – 84
11. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (7-4) – 73
12. Montverde Academy (3A) (8-5) – 62
13. Keystone Heights (3A) (9-1) – 56
14. Englewood (Jacksonville) (5A) (11-1) – 42
15T. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6A) (8-3) – 34
15T. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (6-6) – 34
17. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (4A) (8-2) – 31
18. Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (11-4) – 27
19. Dunnellon (4A) (8-3) – 21
20. Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-3) – 20
Also receiving votes: Columbia (Lake City) (5A) (5-7) – 14; Baldwin (3A) (8-3) – 13; Oak Hall (Gainesville) (2A) (6-2) – 11; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (6-5) – 11; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (7-7) – 10; P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (7-2) – 9; First Coast (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-3) – 8; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-3) – 6; St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) (2A) (10-3) – 6; Lake Minneola (6A) (8-4) – 5; Umatilla (3A) (10-2) – 4.
Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show*
‘Live’ audio: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/sports/live-stream/
Join Mike Ridaught & Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from your locally owned Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Their guests for this episode include Williston boys basketball coach Jim Ervin and members of the 2-time FHSAA Class 1A state champion Red Devils’ basketball team.
Back-to-back champ Williston finishes No. 1
GAINESVILLE – There was only one area FHSAA Boys Basketball state champion during the 2023-24 season, and that team has finished on top of the all-classification regional rankings.
The Williston Red Devils captured their second straight boys basketball state title with a 61-53 win over Hilliard in the Class 1A state championship game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
This was easily their toughest game of the postseason, as the Red Devils (29-2) won their other three postseason games by an average of 49 points.
Their only two losses came to Winter Haven, which advanced to the 7A state semifinals after finishing as runner-up in 2022-23, and 4A Mater Lakes Academy (Miami), which won the 4A state title a year ago and advanced to the region finals this past season.
Williston received nine of the 10 first-place votes and moved up one spot to finish No. 1 in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
Class 4A state runner-up Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) finished second.
This was the fourth time in six years that the Tigers (26-4) lost in the state title game, falling to Gibbs (St. Petersburg), 49-43.
Despite the loss, Jackson received the other first-place vote and moved up a spot to No. 2.
Previous No. 1 Providence (Jacksonville) is third.
The Stallions (24-6) advanced to the 3A state semifinals for the second year in a row. They lost a tough state semifinal game in Lakeland to Windermere Prep, which finished as the 3A state runner-up for the second straight year.
Another state semifinalist, Ponte Vedra, is 4th.
The Sharks (23-8) advanced to the 6A state semifinals for the second straight year after finishing as state runner-up in 2023. They returned to Lakeland by defeating Lincoln (Tallahassee), No. 18T Gainesville, and Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) on the road.
Rounding out the top five is another state semifinalist.
Mainland (Daytona Beach) was the 5A state runner-up in 2023, and they returned to Lakeland in 2024.
The Bucs (22-7) lost in the 5A state semifinals 53-40 to Blake (Tampa), which was beaten in the state title game by Norland (Miami).
Episcopal (Jacksonville) starts off the second five as the 6th-ranked team. The Eagles are followed by No. 7 Raines (Jacksonville), 8th-ranked Hilliard, No. 9 The Villages, and Paxon (Jacksonville) in the top 10.
Hilliard (25-3) advanced to its first 1A state championship game appearance. The Red Flashes gave Williston their toughest test of the playoffs before falling 61-53.
The Villages (20-12) made the 4A state semifinals for the second straight year. The Buffalo lost 47-43 to Andrew Jackson, after finishing as state runner-up a year ago.
Among the second 10 is No. 13 Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville), which advanced to the 2A state semifinals again.
The Lions (18-11), who have been state runner-up three times previously, lost in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Sagemont (Weston).
Buchholz (Gainesville), which is ranked No. 20, is the only team new to the rankings from the previous poll.
The Bobcats (18-11) won their first regional playoff game in 15 years and they replaced the team they beat in the postseason, previous No. 16 Forest (Ocala), which finished 20-8.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2023-24 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #5 (FINAL POLL)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2023-24 record, and total voting points)
1. Williston (1A) (9) (29-2) – 195
2. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (26-4) – 191
3. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (24-6) – 181
4. Ponte Vedra (6A) (23-8) – 153
5. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (22-7) – 150
6. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (24-5) – 139
7. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-8) – 129
8. Hilliard (1A) (25-3) – 127
9. The Villages (4A) (20-12) – 125
10. Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-4) – 116
11. Leesburg (5A) (18-5) – 96
12. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-8) – 95
13. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (18-11) – 84
14. Eustis (4A) (22-6) – 65
15. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (17-12) – 47
16. Riverside (Jacksonville) (5A) (18-9) – 34
17. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (19-7) – 31
18T. Fort White (1A) (17-7) – 30
18T. Gainesville (6A) (18-12) – 30
20. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (18-11) – 18
Also receiving votes: Forest (Ocala) (20-8) – 11; Newberry (1A) (15-9) – 11; Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (16-13) – 9; Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (3A) (19-7) – 8; New Smyrna Beach (6A) (19-6) – 7; Hawthorne (1A) (16-5) – 6; Oak Hall (Gainesville) (2A) (17-6) – 4; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (13-11) – 3; Creekside (St. Johns) (St. Johns) (7A) (18-10) – 3; Central (Brooksville) (4A) (22-7) – 1; Palatka (4A) (23-5) – 1.
Baldwin new No. 1 in regional softball rankings
GAINESVILLE – The Baldwin softball team has yet to lose in 2024 and now is on top of The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
University Christian’s hold on the No. 1 ranking in the all-classification regional rankings was short-lived as the unbeaten Indians (10-0) moved up to the top spot.
Baldwin, Class 3A state semifinalists last year, have wins at previous No. 14 Middleburg, 6-3, and vs. No. 12 Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 2-0. The Indians, who are ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by MaxPreps and top five overall in the state, have eight shutouts through 10 games.
They received four of the eight first-place votes.
Defending 2A state champion University Christian (Jacksonville), which received two first-place votes, tumbled three spots to No. 4 following a 5-3 loss on Friday at Oakleaf (Orange Park) at the Tournament of Champions.
They bounced back to beat previous RV Fort White, 5-1, on Saturday.
The Christians’ (7-2) other loss this season was 1-0 against current No. 20 Williston at the Raider Invitational at Santa Fe (Alachua), which is ranked 16th.
Class 4A Eustis, regional finalists in 2022 and regional semifinalist last year, moved up two spots to No. 2.
The Panthers, who received the other first-place vote, are also undefeated, carrying a 9-0 record into this week.
Class 3A Episcopal (Jacksonville) is third, followed by University Christian, and unbeaten 7A Creekside (St. Johns) in the top five.
Montverde Academy is sixth, while Middleburg and Spruce Creek (Port Orange), which are tied for 7th, Gainesville High, and Deltona round out the top 10.
Deltona (7-2 through last week) received one first-place vote. However, the Class 5A Wolves dropped eight places following their second loss of the season, 3-2, at home against Lake Mary.
Fort White moved into the top 20 and landed just outside the top 10 at No. 11.
The Indians, Class 1A state runners-up in 2022, are 7-2 with wins against No. 18 Oakleaf (Orange Park), 7-2, and No. 20 Williston, 4-3, plus a 2-game sweep of Branford, 9-3 and 12-5.
Their only losses have been against No. 12 Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 3-2, and previous No. 1 University Christian (Jacksonville), 5-1.
Last year’s 1A state runners-up, Branford, dropped out of the top 10, falling nine spots from No. 5 to No. 14 and in a tie with Trenton, which lost its first game of the season at GHS on March 7.
Hernando (Brooksville), Ridgeview (Orange Park), and Dixie County (Cross City) dropped out of the rankings.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024 SOFTBALL POLL #2
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 3/18, and total voting points)
1. Baldwin (3A) (4) (10-0) – 155
2. Eustis (4A) (1) (8-0) – 148
3. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (9-1) – 126
4. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (2) (7-2) – 117
5. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (9-0) – 114
6. Montverde Academy (3A) (9-3) – 113
7T. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (7-1) – 111
7T. Middleburg (5A) (8-1) – 111
9. Gainesville (6A) (9-0) – 100
10. Deltona (5A) (1) (7-2) – 93
11. Fort White (1A) (7-2) – 65
12T. West Nassau (Callahan) (3A) (5-3) – 60
12T. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (5-3) – 60
14T. Branford (1A) (11-3) – 54
14T. Trenton (1A) (9-1) – 54
16T. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (7-2) – 44
16T. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (6-2) – 44
18. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (7-4) – 38
19. Ponte Vedra (5A) (6-3) – 20
20. Williston (1A) (8-5) – 10
Also receiving votes: Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-4) – 9; Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (6-3) – 8; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (5-2) – 8; West Port (Ocala) (7A) (6-0) – 8; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (7-1) – 4; Taylor County (Perry) (3A) (7-1) – 2; Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (3-4) – 2; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (7A) (8-3) – 1; South Lake (Groveland) (6A) (6-3) – 1.
Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show*
‘Live’ audio: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/sports/live-stream/
Join Mike Ridaught & Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from your locally owned Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Their guests for this episode include GHS girls & boys water polo coach David Huelsman and members of both Hurricanes’ teams, who host Venice in the regular season finale this Saturday.
St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) a unanimous No. 1
GAINESVILLE – The high school baseball season is heading into spring.
And there’s an old familiar face at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 baseball teams regardless of classification across 26 counties in Florida.
St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) advanced to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 2A state championship game in Fort Myers for the second time in three years in 2023. And with an all-star lineup back in 2024, the Spartans are ready to make another run.
They are off to another hot start at 8-0. That includes wins over No. 7 Buchholz (Gainesville) and RV Columbia (Lake City), as well as No. 8T Clay (Green Cove Springs), North Florida Christian (Tallahassee), and Thomasville (GA).
They received all eight first place votes to earn the No. 1 ranking.
Two teams are tied for second in Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) and Montverde Academy.
The Conquerors, who were upset in the opening round of the 3A playoffs last spring by Bolles (Jacksonville), are off to a 6-1 start with the only loss being to a Louisiana team.
The Eagles are 7-2 so far in the young season with wins over Bolles, 5-3, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) and two Alabama teams, and their only losses coming to Bolles, 1-0, and a Louisiana team.
Spruce Creek (Port Orange) starts at No. 4.
The Hawks advanced to Fort Myers last May before being knocked out in the state semifinals by the No. 1 team nationally, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland).
Spruce Creek is 7-1 to start in 2024 with wins over Bartram Trail (St. Johns), Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), Lake Mary and Deltona and the only loss to Windermere.
Last year’s 4A state runner-up, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), rounds out the top five.
The Crusaders, who were beaten by North Marion (Citra), 5-0, in the 4A title game at Hammond Stadium last spring, started this season 5-1 with wins over North Marion, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), and St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine). Their only loss so far came to Oakleaf (Orange Park).
The second five includes Providence (Jacksonville) at No. 6, followed by Buchholz, Clay, Forest (Ocala), and Newberry in the top 10.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024 BASEBALL POLL #1
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, final 2023 record, 2024 record through 3/12, and total voting points)
1. St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park) (2A) (8) (26-5) (8-0) – 160
2T. Montverde Academy (3A) (25-4) (7-2) – 135
2T. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (22-5) (6-1) – 135
4. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (20-11) (7-1) – 129
5. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (19-11) (5-1) – 123
6. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (25-5) (6-3) – 113
7. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (21-7) (4-2) – 89
8T. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (23-7) (5-2) – 84
8T. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (11-13) (10-1) – 84
10. Newberry (1A) (16-9) (6-1) – 82
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (3A) (15-13) (7-3) – 81
12. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (22-5) (7-1) – 80
13. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (4A) (15-10-1) (6-0) – 62
14. Baldwin (3A) (11-14) (7-1) – 43
15. First Coast (Jacksonville) (6A) (11-14) (6-0) – 36
16. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (15-12) (6-2) – 31
17T. Dunnellon (4A) (15-12) (6-3) – 25
17T. Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (17-10) (8-2) – 25
19. Keystone Heights (3A) (16-9) (6-1) – 22
20. Englewood (Jacksonville) (5A) (12-13) (6-1) – 18
Also receiving votes: Lake Minneola (6A) (21-6) (7-3) – 17; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (18-9) (6-4) – 14; P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (19-8) (5-1) – 14; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6A) (16-9) (4-2) – 11; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (21-9) (5-3) – 11; Hernando (Brooksville) (4A) (23-5) (5-3) – 10; Umatilla (3A) (17-9) (7-0) – 9; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (22-7) (5-3) – 8; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (4-20) (6-2) – 7; Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (3A) (6-15) (7-3) – 6; Oak Hall (Gainesville) (2A) (18-6) (4-2) – 3; Yulee (4A) (15-11) (5-4) – 2.
Class 4A state runner-up Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) finishes No. 1
GAINESVILLE – There was only one area FHSAA state champion in girls high school basketball this year.
However, it was a team that finished second that earned the final No. 1 ranking in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties.
In fact, they went wire-to-wire as the top overall team.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), which advanced to its sixth straight final four this year, received seven of the 10 first-place votes to finish on top of the all-classification regional rankings.
The Crusaders (26-5) finished as Class 4A state runners-up after losing, 58-47, to nationally ranked No. 15 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) in the 4A state championship game.
The 4A-District 4 champions edged SLAM (Miami), 46-43, in the state semifinals.
Class 3A state semifinalist Providence (Jacksonville) finished second.
The Stallions (26-3), who won the 3A-District 3 title, advanced to their second straight final four, losing 60-38 to eventual state champion & No. 4 overall in Florida Miami Country Day in the 3A state semifinals.
They had wins against No. 12 San Jose Prep, 62-59, No. 19 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 77-62, and Episcopal (Jacksonville), 59-41, in the regional playoffs.
Mainland (Daytona Beach), which made a run all the way to the 5A state championship game, is third.
The Bucs (18-13) lost to No. 8 overall American Heritage (Plantation), 60-55, in 5A state championship game after knocking off River Ridge (New Port Richey), 62-31, in the state semifinals. They won 11 of their final 13 games, including the 5A-District 4 title.
Another final four team, Ponte Vedra, is fourth.
The Sharks (22-9), who won the 6A-District 4 title, lost to Bloomingdale (Valrico), 55-50, in the 6A state semifinals.
Rounding out the top five is the only state champion from the area, Hawthorne, which won its second straight state title.
The Lady Hornets (22-3), who won the 1A-District 6 title, won their final 19 games of the season.
They defeated Graceville, 43-30, in the 1A state championship game by rallying from a 12-point deficit. Hawthorne also rallied from a double-digit deficit to upset top-ranked Wildwood, 44-41, in the state semifinals.
Hawthorne defeated No. 18 Madison County, 55-42, in the region final to advance to the final four in Lakeland.
Ribault (Jacksonville), which lost at top-ranked Bishop Kenny in the 4A regional semifinals, is ranked sixth, followed by 2A state semifinalist University Christian (Jacksonville), Class 1A state semifinalist Wildwood, 4A regional semifinalist Bolles (Jacksonville) and 5A regional finalist Leesburg in the top 10.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2023-24 GIRLS BASKETBALL POLL #5 (FINAL POLL)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final record, and total voting points)
1. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (7) (26-5) – 197
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (26-3) – 178
3. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (18-13) – 159
4. Ponte Vedra (6A) (22-9) – 158
5. Hawthorne (1A) (3) (22-3) – 155
6. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-6) – 138
7. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (19-7) – 137
8. Wildwood (1A) (19-4) – 129
9. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (19-9) – 120
10. Leesburg (5A) (24-2) – 98
11. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (18-9) – 89
12. San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (3A) (16-10) – 75
13. Beachside (St. Johns) (6A) (20-6) – 74
14. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (5A) (14-7) – 71
15. North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (15-6) – 52
16. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (17-10) – 49
17. St. Augustine (5A) (18-4) – 47
18. Madison County (1A) (21-5) – 32
19. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (14-9) – 27
20. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (21-4) – 26
Also receiving votes: Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-9) – 24; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (21-5) – 21; Dunnellon (4A) (23-4) – 18; St. John’s Country Day (Orange Park) (2A) (19-8) – 12; St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) (2A) (20-7) – 6; Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (7A) (20-7) – 3; Eastside (Gainesville) (4A) (15-9) – 3; Newberry (1A) (15-9) – 3; Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (18-10) – 2; Trenton (1A) (23-5) – 2; Forest (Ocala) (6A) (17-11) – 2; Orange Park (6A) (12-12) – 1; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (7A) (11-7) – 1; DeLand (7A) (13-7) – 1.
Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show*
‘Live’ audio: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/sports/live-stream/
Join Mike Ridaught & Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from your locally owned Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Their guests for this episode include Buchholz girls flag football coach Scott Jamison and members of the inaugural Bobcats’ girls flag football team.