Gainesville – There were a few surprises in the Prep Zone Power Poll.
Three top 10 teams, including previously unbeaten Bolles (Jacksonville), had their season come to an end in the first round of the FHSAA boys’ basketball state playoffs.
The Bulldogs (26-1) were shocked by Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), 53-45, in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals. Bolles dropped eight spots from third to 11th in this week’s poll.
Also in 4A, the Villages, still seeking its first playoff win in school history, was upset by Santa Fe (Alachua), 79-72, at home. The Buffalo (25-3) dropped nine spots from sixth to 15th. The Raiders (17-12) are receiving votes for the first time this season.
In Class 6A, Bartram Trail’s (St. Johns) season was cut short by Forrest (Jacksonville), 73-66. The Bears (22-6) dropped from 10th to 17th, while the Rebels (18-9), who won their first postseason game since 1982, is back in the poll at No. 18.
Meanwhile, Providence (Jacksonville) and Sandalwood (Jacksonville), which won its 18th game in a row, held on to the top spots unanimously.
The nationally-ranked and defending 3A state champion Stallions (24-4) remained No. 1 following a convincing 77-29 win over Oak Hall (Gainesville), while the #2 Saints (25-2) defeated RV Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 72-62, in Class 8A.
Lake Minneola crushed RV Deltona, 75-40, in 6A, and moved up one spot to third. The Hawks (25-3) will host Vanguard (Ocala), which defeated RV Mainland, 43-36, on the road. The Knights (19-9), who will face the Hawks for the fourth time this season, moved up four spots to 14th in this week’s rankings.
Class 4A Ribault (Jacksonville) (27-3) edged RV Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 62-58, and moved up one spot to fourth, while 6A Ed White (Jacksonville) routed Nease (Ponte Vedra), 88-58, and moved up two spots to fifth.
Citrus (Inverness), which has won 16 in a row, will travel to Eastside (Gainesville), which has won eight in a row, on Tuesday night, in the only match-up of top 10 teams. The Hurricanes (26-2) moved up two spots to sixth, while the Rams (22-6) moved up three spots to ninth.
Fort White (26-2) is ranked seventh and Gainesville (21-7) is No. 8, while Baker County rounds out the top 10 one spot behind the Rams.
Nature Coast (Brooksville) (21-7) and Hawthorne (21-5) are back in the rankings at 19th and 20th, respectively.
This is the last poll until the final poll following the conclusion of the FHSAA Boys’ Basketball Finals.
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, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2013-14 BASKETBALL POLL #9
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, current record and total voting points)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (7) (3A) (24-4) – 140
2. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (25-2) – 133
3. Lake Minneola (6A) (25-3) – 125
4. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (27-3) – 120
5. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (23-4) – 111
6. Citrus (Inverness) (5A) (26-2) – 106
7. Fort White (4A) (26-2) – 94
8. Gainesville (6A) (21-7) – 90
9. Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (22-6) – 68
10. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (23-4) – 67
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (26-1) – 60
12. Chiefland (1A) (24-1) – 59
13. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (20-8) – 51
14. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (19-9) – 47
15. The Villages (4A) (25-3) – 43
16. DeLand (8A) (21-8) – 33
17. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (22-6) – 29
18. Forrest (Jacksonville) (6A) (18-9) – 21
19. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (21-7) – 17
20. Hawthorne (1A) (21-5) – 15
Also receiving votes: Eustis (5A) (21-7) – 13; Santa Fe (Alachua) (17-12) – 5; Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (3A) (19-10) – 5; Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (16-7) – 4; Ponte Vedra (5A) (21-7) – 2; North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (10-8) – 1; Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (13-9) – 1.
