Providence (Jacksonville) edges Lake Minneola again for the top spot
Gainesville – As we head into the holiday hoops tournaments, the battle for Nos. 1 and 2 remains close, while over half of the teams are state-ranked in the final Prep Zone Power Poll of the fall.
Four teams in the top 20 are undefeated, including the top-ranked team from Duval County which picked up some signature wins last week.
Providence (Jacksonville) picked up six of the seven first-place votes and held on to the top spot after a 2-0 week that included wins at unbeaten Florida Air (Melbourne) on Saturday and a win against previous #3 Ed White (Jacksonville), 69-56, last Tuesday. The Stallions (10-0) are ranked second in the 3A state poll.
Just behind Providence is Lake Minneola, which has already knocked off the defending 8A & 2A state champions and its only blemish was on the road to the #1 team in the country (Montverde Academy by 10). The Hawks (9-1), ranked No. 1 in the 6A state poll, went 3-0 last week with wins against previous #11 Vanguard (Ocala) and #20 East Ridge (Clermont).
Bolles (Jacksonville), which is ranked second in the Class 4A state poll, moved up three spots to third. The Bulldogs (7-0) have yet to lose in 2014 and picked up three wins last week, including a victory against previous #3 Ed White. The ‘Dogs, who are only allowing 34.6 points per game, are playing at the KSA Classic Tournament this week at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Tigers (9-1) of Jackson (Jacksonville) moved up one spot to fourth. They are ranked fifth in the 4A poll just two spots behind Bolles.
Rounding out the top five is Gainesville, which moved up three spots after a 3-0 week that included victories against #10 Suwannee, previous #19 Oakleaf (Orange Park) and at previous No. 13 Columbia (Lake City). The Hurricanes (7-1), ranked second in the state in 6A, will play in the Kiwanis Christmas Tournament in Starke this Thursday through Saturday.
Eastside (Gainesville) (7-2) is ranked sixth, followed by Ed White (Jacksonville) (6-2), Wolfson (Jacksonville) (9-0), Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (7-3) and Suwannee (Live Oak) (7-1) in the top 10.
Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) enters the poll for the first time at No. 18. The Sandcrabs (8-1) have won three in a row since their only loss to No. 11 Flagler Palm Coast.
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 weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2014-15 BASKETBALL POLL #3
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, and record through 12/15)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (6) (3A) (10-0) – 139
2. Lake Minneola (1) (6A) (9-1) – 134
3. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-0) – 123
4. Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (9-1) – 122
5. Gainesville (6A) (7-1) – 105
6. Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (7-2) – 101
7. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (6-2) – 98
8. Wolfson (Jacksonville) (6A) (9-0) – 82
9. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 78
10. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-1) – 76
11. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (8-1) – 65
12. Deltona (6A) (9-1) – 59
13. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (7-1) – 57
14. Eustis (5A) (9-1) – 47
15. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (6-2) – 44
16. Hawthorne (1A) (10-0) – 35
17. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (6-2) – 24
18. Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (8-1) – 17
19. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (6-3) – 15
20. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (6-2) – 9
Also receiving votes: Williston (1A) (6-1) – 6; Fernandina Beach (4A) (9-1) – 5; Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-3) – 5; Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (6-3) – 4; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (6-3) – 4; Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (5-4) – 4; Crescent City (1A) (7-1) – 2.
