Some change in top 10 of regional rankings as state playoffs begin
GAINESVILLE — District tournament play is over for the boys’ basketball teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll. And much of the top 10 is going to have to go on the road for the regional playoffs after losing district championship games.
One of those teams is not Providence (Jacksonville).
The Stallions (22-5) have won 13 in a row, and rolled through the District 2-4A tournament last week, beating University Christian (Jacksonville) and Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) by a combined 96 points.
Providence hasn’t lost since December 31, and will open up regional play at home Thursday against Maclay (Tallahassee). The Stallions are once again the unanimous top team this week, receiving all seven first place votes.
Moving up to second this week is Creekside (St. Johns).
The Knights (24-3) rolled through Oakleaf (Orange Park) and Buchholz (Gainesville) to win the District 4-8A title. Creekside moves up three spots from last week and hosts Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) to start regional play.
Moving up five spots this week to #3 is Vanguard (Ocala).
The Knights (21-6) ended Gainesville’s 16 game winning streak and won for the first time at the Purple Palace since 2006 by winning the District 4-7A championship game 64-57 in overtime. This is the first district title for Vanguard since 2003 and the Knights open regional play in 7A at home against St. Augustine.
Speaking of Gainesville, the Purple Hurricanes (24-3) drop two spaces to 4th after the loss to Vanguard. This ended a streak of three consecutive district titles for Gainesville and now sends the Purple Hurricanes on the road to play #T-19 Englewood (Jacksonville) in the regional quarterfinals for 7A.
Rounding out the top five is The Villages.
The Buffalo (25-2) move up two spots into the top five after clinching the District 5-5A tournament with a win over Trinity Catholic (Ocala). The Villages opens up regional play in 5A against Master’s Academy (Oviedo).
Ribault (Jacksonville) rises three spots to sixth after winning the District 3-6A tournament. The Trojans (22-6) defeated then-#11 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) in the semifinals before knocking off then-#6 Terry Parker (Jacksonville) in the championship game. Ribault plays Baker County (Glen St. Mary) in their 6A regional opener tonight.
Atlantic (Port Orange) drops four spots this week to 7th after losing their district championship game 94-90 to #T-19 Deltona. The Sharks (23-4) will travel to Edgewater (Orlando) for their 7A regional quarterfinal tonight.
Nature Coast (Brooksville) also drops four slots this week to 8th after losing their first game of the season, 67-59 to #18 Central (Brooksville) in the District 7-6A championship. The Sharks (25-1) travel to Zephyrhills to open up their 6A regional play.
Terry Parker falls to 9th after the loss to Ribault. The Braves (21-3) hit the road to Orange Park for a 6A regional quarterfinal tonight.
Rounding out the top 10 is Hawthorne, which captured the District 6-1A championship with a 55-46 win over Newberry. The Hornets (22-5) move up four spots to 10th and open up 1A regional play against Hamilton County (Jasper).
Another big mover this week is P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), who moves up four spots to 11th after winning the District 1-4A tournament. The Blue Wave (18-7) play in the regional semifinals against Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville).
Raines (Jacksonville) is up six slots to 12th after winning the District 3-5A championship title. The Vikings knocked off Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) and Bolles (Jacksonville) to win the tournament and play Interlachen in the regional quarterfinals.
Central, Englewood, and Deltona are new to the poll this week. Dropping out is New Smyrna Beach. South Sumter (Bushnell), and Spruce Creek (Port Orange), who all lost in the semifinals of their district tournaments.
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 – 2016-17 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #9
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 2/12, and total voting points)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (7) (22–5) – 140
2. Creekside (St. Johns) (8A) (24-3) – 133
3. Vanguard (Ocala) (7A) (21-6) – 117
4. Gainesville (7A) (24-3) – 116
5. The Villages (5A) (25-2) – 111
6. Ribault (Jacksonville) (6A) (22-6) – 102
7. Atlantic (Port Orange) (7A) (23-4) – 94
8. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (6A) (25-1) – 92
9. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (21-3) – 83
10. Hawthorne (1A) (22-5) – 75
11. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (5A) (18-7) – 71
12. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (18-9) – 62
13. Madison County (1A) (21-4) – 35
14. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (20-7) – 30
15. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (20-6) – 28
16. Wildwood (1A) (22-3) – 26
17. Leesburg (6A) (18-6) – 22
18. Central (Brooksville) (6A) (18-9) – 20
T-19. Deltona (7A) (15-10) – 18
T-19. Englewood (Jacksonville) (17-9) – 18
T-19. Fernandina Beach (5A) (22-5) – 18
Also receiving votes: Lee (Jacksonville) (8A) (16-7) – 15; Palatka (6A) (19-8) – 11; Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (5A) (15-11) – 6; Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (18-8) – 6; Trinity Christian (Deltona) (3A) (19-8) – 6; East Ridge (Clermont) (9A) (17-9) – 4; North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (17-5) – 4; Santa Fe (Alachua) (6A) (17-10) – 3; Flagler Palm Coast (9A) (16-11) – 2; New Smyrna Beach (7A) (18-7) – 2.
