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Leesburg still a unanimous No. 1 in the all-classification regional rankings heading into FHSAA regional play
GAINESVILLE – Leesburg, which is one of the top teams in the Sunshine State, is still No. 1 in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The defending Class 6A state champions held on to the top spot following a 3-0 week, including the 6A-District 13 title. The Yellow Jackets, who received all seven first-place votes, will host Satellite (Satellite Beach) tonight in the Region 4-6A quarterfinals.
Leesburg (24-1) is the No. 2 overall FHSAA team in Florida according to MaxPreps.
Palatka remained second, but last year’s 4A state runners-up, Providence (Jacksonville), moved into a tie with the Panthers, who won the District 5-6A title. The Panthers (25-2) are seeking back-to-back appearances in the Class 6A state semifinals.
Both teams won district titles. In fact, nine of the top 10 teams were crowned district champions.
The Stallions (22-5), who won the District 2-4A title, have won 11 in a row.
Creekside (St. Johns) is ranked fourth. The Knights (23-4) defeated previous #15 Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 32-30, in the District 4-8A championship game.
Rounding out the top five is Gainesville High. The Hurricanes (22-5) are peaking at the right time, winning 12 of their last 13, including the District 4-7A title.
District champions Eastside (Gainesville), Nature Coast (Brooksville), Hawthorne and First Coast (Jacksonville) are ranked sixth through ninth, respectively.
The Villages, which lost to Trinity Catholic (Ocala) in the District 5-5A championship game, 62-49, dropped from seventh to 10th. The Buffalo (20-7) were in the 5A state semifinals last season.
Meanwhile, the Celtics (18-8) moved into the rankings at No. 19, along with District 5-7A champion Deltona (19-7) at No. 17.
This is the last ranking until after the FHSAA Boys Basketball Finals, which will be held March 5-10 at the Lakeland Center.
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. It is powered by Strive Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2017-18 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #9
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 2/17, and total voting points)
1. Leesburg (6A) (7) (24-1) – 140
2T. Palatka (6A) (25-2) – 128
2T. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (22-5) – 128
4. Creekside (St. Johns) (8A) (23-4) – 120
5. Gainesville (7A) (22-5) – 113
6. Eastside (Gainesville) (6A) (22-5) – 106
7. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (6A) (25-2) – 94
8. Hawthorne (1A) (22-5) – 86
9. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (20-4) – 81
10. The Villages (5A) (20-7) – 78
11. Englewood (Jacksonville) (7A) (22-4) – 71
12. Madison County (1A) (23-4) – 61
13. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (19-7) – 51
14. DeLand (9A) (18-6) – 39
15. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (7A) (18-7) – 37
16. Wildwood (1A) (19-7) – 28
17T. Deltona (7A) (19-7) – 22
17T. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (19-7) – 22
19. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (5A) (18-8) – 21
20. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (21-7) – 15
Also receiving votes: Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (18-8) – 9; Bradford (Starke) (5A) (19-8) – 7; Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-9) – 6; Orange Park (6A) (18-9) – 3; North Marion (Citra) (6A) (17-8) – 3; North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (16-7) – 1.
