Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) edges Providence (Jacksonville) for top spot in all-classification regional rankings
GAINESVILLE — The team at the top remains the same in The Prep Zone Power Poll for boys basketball.
But the Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) Tigers have a team right on their tail for the #1 ranking.
The Tigers (8-3) won their only game last week, working double overtime to beat Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville) at the Pre-MLK Classic. That was enough to give Andrew Jackson five of the eight first-place votes and keep them on top of the regional all-classification rankings for another week.
The Tigers edged Providence (Jacksonville) by just a single point for the top spot this week.
Providence (14-2) won three more games last week at RV Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville), Oakleaf (Orange Park), and Baker County (Glen St. Mary).
The Stallions have won seven games in a row since a loss to a team from Georgia at the Windermere Prep Holiday Tournament right after Christmas.
Providence moved up a spot to 2nd this week and received two first-place votes.
Eastside (Gainesville) moves up two spots to 3rd.
The Rams (11-1) received the final first-place vote after a week in which they beat North Marion (Citra), #20 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), and #18 North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) at the Dante Anderson Memorial Showcase last Saturday.
Eastside has won eight games in a row since their only loss, in overtime, to #16 Santa Fe (Alachua).
Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) remains fourth.
The Cardinals (10-3) defeated Bartram Trail (St. Johns) and Bishop Moore (Orlando), but they lost 55-51 to Riviera Prep (Miami) at the Pre-MLK Classic at Jackson last Friday.
Rounding out the top five this week is Paxon (Jacksonville). The Golden Eagles (10-4) drop three slots from the previous poll after losing 38-35 to then-#15 Episcopal (Jacksonville).
Forest (Ocala) and Palatka remain 6th and 7th respectively.
Episcopal made the big move this week, up seven spots and into the top 10 at #8.
The Eagles (12-3) added a win at #11T Bolles (Jacksonville) to the victory over Paxon. Episcopal has won six in a row since a loss to Providence on December 19.
Ponte Vedra also moves into the top 10 at #9 as the Sharks (14-1) also beat Bolles last week.
Bolles (7-3) drops into a three-way tie for 11th with Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) and The Villages.
Columbia (Lake City) rounds out the top 10 this week.
Santa Fe moves back into the rankings this week, while #19 First Coast (Jacksonville) is new to the poll.
Dropping out from the previous poll are Mainland (Daytona Beach) and Lecanto.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, volleyball, girls and boys 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 and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2020-21 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 1/10, and total voting points)
1. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (5) (8-3) – 155
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (2) (14-2) – 154
3. Eastside (Gainesville) (4A) (1) (11-1) – 143
4. Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (3A) (10-3) – 127
5. Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-4) – 124
6. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (9-2) – 120
7. Palatka (4A) (11-2) – 112
8. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (12-3) – 102
9. Ponte Vedra (5A) (14-1) – 100
10. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (6-3) – 87
11T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-3) – 59
11T. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-3) – 59
11T. The Villages (4A) (7-5) – 59
14T. Nease (Ponte Vedra (7A) (9-4) – 46
14T. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-5) – 46
16. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (9-4) – 33
17. Hawthorne (1A) (5-4) – 28
18. North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (6-8) – 25
19. First Coast (Jacksonville) (6A) (6-2) – 20
20. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (8-5) – 18
Also receiving votes: Madison County (1A) (5-1) – 13; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (10-2) – 11; Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (10-3) – 6; Williston (1A) (9-3) – 6; Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-6) – 5; Lecanto (5A) (10-2) – 5; Newberry (1A) (8-2) – 5; Wildwood (1A) (7-6) – 5; New Smyrna Beach (6A) (9-3) – 3; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (6-11) – 3; Belleview (5A) (9-2) – 2; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (7-6) – 2.
