There’s a shake up in the top five but Providence (Jacksonville) remains number one
Gainesville – The top team in the Prep Zone Power Poll remained the same, but the rest of the top five changed.
Providence (Jacksonville) flexed its muscle with a 75-53 win over 7A #9 Miami Central at the MLK Classic at Raines (Jacksonville) over the weekend. The Stallions (18-1), currently ranked on top of the 3A state rankings, received all seven first-place votes to remain on top of the regional rankings.
For the first time this season, the Jackson (Jacksonville) Tigers are ranked second. Jackson benefited from losses by the previous Nos. 2 & 3 teams in the poll, but the Tigers (17-1) took care of business by going 4-0 last week.
Jackson, which is ranked 3rd in the 4A state poll, defeated 6A #4 Miami Norland, 56-53, and 5A #5 Gibbs (St. Pete), 54-47, at the MLK Classic at Raines (Jacksonville).
Lake Minneola drops from second to third following its third loss of the season. The Hawks (14-3), ranked No. 1 in the 6A state poll, had a couple of wins last week but also lost at 2A power Orlando Christian Prep, 67-63.
Following a 68-60 win over rival Buchholz (Gainesville), the Gainesville Purple Hurricanes moved up one spot to fourth. The ‘Canes (15-2) are ranked right behind Lake Minneola in the 6A state rankings at No. 2.
Rounding out the top five is Bolles (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs (15-1) lost their first game of the season at No. 11 Episcopal (Jacksonville), 50-40, but they also defeated previous #16 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), 54-53, to go 1-1 last week.
Wolfson (Jacksonville) (17-1) is ranked sixth, followed by Deltona (18-2), Eustis (14-1), winners of 10 in a row, Flagler Palm Coast (14-3) and Suwannee (Live Oak) (12-4) in the top 10.
Class 6A Leesburg (13-6), which went 2-1 with a loss to previous #12 Eustis, 75-58, on Thursday, dropped out of the poll, while 2014 1A state semifinalist Hamilton County (Jasper) went 3-0 and re-entered the poll at No. 19. The Trojans (12-6), ranked 7th in the 1A state poll, defeated #10 Suwannee, 69-61, on Friday.
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 #5
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and results through 1/11)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (7) (3A) (18-1) – 140
2. Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (17-1) – 131
3. Lake Minneola (6A) (14-3) – 122
4. Gainesville (6A) (15-2) – 118
5. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-1) – 111
6. Wolfson (Jacksonville) (6A) (17-1) – 109
7. Deltona (6A) (18-2) – 98
8. Eustis (5A) (14-1) – 87
9. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (14-3) – 81
10. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (12-4) – 71
11. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-2) – 65
12. Hawthorne (1A) (16-2) – 64
13. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (11-3) – 62
14. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (13-3) – 46
15. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (12-5) – 35
16. Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (12-3) – 33
17. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (10-6) – 32
18. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (10-5) – 31
19. Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (12-6) – 15
20. Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (12-7) – 8
Also receiving votes: Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (12-5) – 6; Leesburg (6A) (13-6) – 5.
