Nease (Ponte Vedra) a unanimous No. 1 in the all-classification regional rankings
GAINESVILLE – Sparked by a 3-0 week, which included a win against a top five team, Nease (Ponte Vedra) solidified its hold at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Panthers (20-1), ranked No. 1 in Class 7A by MaxPreps, defeated No. 5 Middleburg, 52-47, as part of a current 7-game winning streak. Nease received all eight first-place votes to stay No. 1 in the all-classification regional rankings.
In fact, the top five teams remained the same.
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), Father Lopez (Daytona Beach), Spruce Creek (Port Orange), and Middleburg are still second through fifth, respectively, despite a couple of losses.
Spruce Creek (16-4) lost to 7A #4 Norland (Miami), 45-42, but they also had a 53-41 win against No. 11 Flagler Palm Coast (15-2).
Middleburg (15-4) bounced back from the loss to Nease to win at previous No. 8 Fernandina Beach, which dropped one spot to ninth. The Pirates (18-3) stayed in the top 10 thanks to a 58-36 win against University Christian (Jacksonville), which dropped one spot from 15th to 16th.
Jacksonville schools Sandalwood and Bishop Kenny are tied for sixth.
The Saints (13-4) won the Gateway Conference title with a 42-30 win against No. 8 Raines (Jacksonville) in the championship game and moved up one spot from seventh, while the Crusaders (19-2) remained sixth following a 2-0 week.
Orange Park rounds out the top 10. The Class 6A Raiders (17-2) climbed two spots following a 3-0 week.
Class 7A Columbia (Lake City) (15-5) re-enters at No. 20 following a 4-0 week, while previous No. 19 Lake Minneola (12-4) dropped out following a 1-1 week.
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.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2018-19 GIRLS BASKETBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 1/20, and total voting points)
1. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (7A) (8) (20-1) – 160
2. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (4A) (19-1) – 148
3. Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (7A) (18-2) – 140
4. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (16-4) – 131
5. Middleburg (7A) (15-4) – 129
6T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (19-2) – 122
6T. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (13-4) – 122
8. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (18-5) – 101
9. Fernandina Beach (5A) (18-3) – 89
10. Orange Park (6A) (17-2) – 82
11. Flagler Palm Coast (9A) (15-2) – 79
12. Ribault (Jacksonville) (6A) (14-5) – 74
13. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (11-5) – 62
14. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (14-5) – 57
15. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (14-2) – 54
16. University Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (11-3) – 36
17. Vanguard (Ocala) (7A) (14-5) – 26
18. Trenton (1A) (16-3) – 17
19. Weeki Wachee (6A) (19-2) – 16
20. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (15-5) – 11
Also receiving votes: Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (12-6) – 10; Lake Minneola (8A) (12-4) – 7; Hawthorne (1A) (15-2) – 7.
