3A Regional Semifinals:
Tampa Prep (28-1) defeated McKeel Academy 76-44. The Terrapins will host Orlando First Academy (27-4) who defeated Florida Air Academy (Melbourne) 65-58 this Saturday night at 7pm. First Academy defeated Tampa Prep at the Final Four last season. Winner advances to Lakeland to play against the victor between Daytona Beach Father Lopez (26-4) at Jacksonville Providence (26-3). On the southern side of the 3A bracket, it’s Shorecrest Prep (22-8) hosting Ft. Myers Evangelical Christian (22-8). The Chargers advanced by virtue of a 63-53 win over St. Petersburg Catholic while Evangelical defeated Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin 52-41 in OT. The winner of this game will then face either defending State Champions Sagemont (22-8) out of Weston or Archbishop Curley (23-1) from Miami in the State Semifinals in Lakeland.
The 3A “Elite Eight”:
First Academy at Tampa Prep
Father Lopez at Providence
Evangelical Christian at Shorecrest Prep
Sagemont at Archbishop Curley
4A Regional Semifinals:
It was Berkeley Prep (21-7) cruising to a 68-54 victory over Avon Park. The Buccaneers will now play host to Ft. Myers Bishop Verot (25-4), who defeated St. Edward’s out of Boca Raton 68-46. The winner of Saturday Night’s affair will play either Pine Crest (21-7) from Fort Lauderdale or LaSalle (12-13) from Miami. On the top of the bracket it’s Raines (13-13) riding a 6-game winning streak taking on Godby (29-2) vying for a chance to get to Lakeland and play either Williston (20-7) or Lake Highland Prep (26-3).
4A “Elite Eight”:
Raines at Godby
Williston at Lake Highland Prep
Bishop Verot at Berkeley Prep
Pine Crest at LaSalle
5A Regional Semifinals:
Jesuit got past Robinson 63-53 improving their record to 27-1. They will now take on 5A State Runners-up Lake Wales (25-4) who dismantled Merritt Island 65-21. Nature Coast (28-1) defeated Hudson 54-40 in the top half of the bracket. The Sharks will now travel to Gainesville Eastside (25-4) who were victorious over North Marion 50-45. Winner of this game advances to Lakeland to play either Terry Parker from Jacksonville or Panama City Rutherford. The winner of Jesuit/Lake Wales will face Cape Coral Mariner (24-6) or Plantation American Heritage (24-5).
5A “Elite Eight”:
Terry Parker at Rutherford
Nature Coast at Eastside
Jesuit at Lake Wales
Mariner at American Heritage (Plantation)
6A Regional Semifinals:
In the top half of the 6A Bracket, it’s Pensacola Pine Forest (26-5) heading East on I-10 to face Jacksonville Wolfson (25-5) this Saturday Night. Winner of this game faces host Orlando Edgewater (19-10) or Leesburg (20-9) the defending 4A State Champions. It was Sickles falling just short of our neighbors to the south in Manatee County as Palmetto (16-12) advances to the Regional Finals to face Winter Haven (19-7). The Tigers defeated the Gryphons 63-58 while the Blue Devils outlasted Land O’Lakes 60-42. Winner of this games plays the winner of host Barron G. Collier (24-2) out of Naples against Norland (26-3).
6A “Elite Eight”:
Pine Forest at Wolfson
Leesburg at Edgewater
Winter Haven at Palmetto
Norland at Barron G. Collier
7A Regional Semifinals:
Ocala Forest (19-5) will travel to Oviedo (18-10). Forest defeated Jacksonville Ed White 81-74 while Oviedo defeated Viera 56-53. The winner of this game on Saturday will face the winner of Ridge Community (18-8) at Orlando Oak Ridge (18-10). The Bolts defeated Lakeland in Double Overtime by a score of 68-64 while the Pioneers of Oak Ridge pulled away from Poinciana 57-50. It was Saint Petersburg (19-9) defeating Seminole 45-39 setting up a Regional Final hosting of Martin Co. (26-3) who defeated Port St. Lucie 83-53. Winner of this tilt plays next week against the victor of Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (27-2) vs. Atlantic Community of Delray Beach (19-6).
7A “Elite Eight”:
Ocala Forest at Oviedo
Ridge Community at Oak Ridge
Martin Co. at Saint Petersburg
Atlantic Community at Blanche Ely
8A Regional Semifinals:
The top half of the bracket will see West Orange (22-7) travel to Hagerty (23-7). West Orange was victorious over Dr. Phillips 73-62 while Hagerty defeated Sandalwood 71-67 in OT. Winner will await the outcome of Sarasota Riverview (25-4) at Vero Beach (21-5). The Rams defeated East Lake for a 4th time by a score of 49-42 while Vero dispatched Colonial out of Orlando by a score of 55-48. The bottom portion of the largest classification will see Deerfield Beach (22-4) travel to Boca Raton to take on Spanish River (20–3) who defeated John I. Leonard 71-48 while it was the Bucks sliding past Cypress Bay 64-57. Winner faces either Killian (19-5) who defeated state semifinalists Columbus 46-44 or Hialeah Gardens (25-5) who defeated Miami Sr. 65-59.
8A “Elite Eight”:
West Orange at Hagerty
Riverview at Vero Beach
Deerfield Beach at Spanish River
Killian at Hialeah Gardens