3A Semifinals
Providence (Jacksonville) vs. Tampa Prep 7:00pm (Tuesday)
Shorecrest Prep vs. Sagemont (Weston) 9:00pm (Tuesday)
There are not one, but two Bay Area teams left in contention in this classification as the Tampa Prep Terrapins and Shorecrest Prep Chargers are ready to get it going tomorrow night in Lakeland. At 7:00pm, it’s Providence (28-2) from Jacksonville seeking their 2nd title in three seasons as they face the Terrapins who are 29-1 this year and making their 3rd consecutive trip to Lakeland. The Stallions defeated Tampa Prep 63-46 in that game 2010. The Terrapins have four players averaging in double-digits, with the brightest spot perhaps being that only one of them is a senior. Their only loss this season is to 6A Semifinalists and the 2010 5A Runners-up Lake Wales by one point. They have also dispatched current 4A and 6A final four participants Berkeley Prep and Winter Haven by an average margin of victory of 37 points.
Shorecrest (23-7) faces a tough test to say the very least, but one they are certainly capable of passing if they score at will like they’ve been known to do this season. The Chargers have scored 80+ points 9 times this season, scoring 90+/100+ twice within those 9 games. The Lions of Sagemont (23-7) are the reigning 2A State Champions and are making their 4th appearance in Lakeland in the last 5 years. Sagemont is battle-tested against one of the toughest schedule a 3A team could play in this state. They’ve played Pine Crest (4A Finalist), Dr. Krop, Champagnant Catholic and Grandview Prep (both 2A Finalists) in addition to regional finalist Deerfield Beach. The Lions also traveled to the Washington D.C. Area to take on their best (Gonzaga Prep, Sidwell Friends Prep) and Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller during one of the many holiday tournaments. The 3A Finals will be played on Thursday at 10:00am.
4A Semifinals
Lake Highland Prep vs. Godby 6:00pm (Wednesday)
Berkeley Prep vs. Fort Lauderdale-Pine Crest 8:00pm (Wednesday)
Don’t let the two records fool you. Both teams may have recorded identical 22-7 results thus far, but that’s where many of the potential comparisons on paper stop. The Bucs are facing a Panthers team that’s making its sixth-consecutive trip to Lakeland, winning state titles in 2008, ’09, and runners-up in 2010. They are the Alma Mater of Kentucky sensation Brandon Knight. Berkeley won’t be phased by the Panthers past however since they have a couple of stars themselves in Justin Gray and Nelson Agholor; both teams share a common opponent in Ransom Everglades High School. BP went 1-1 winning 63-56 and losing 72-63 within the span of 7 days while Pine Crest went 2-0 winning by 3 at the beginning of December and then by a seven point margin 2 weeks later. The winner of this game faces the survivor of Lake Highland Prep (27-3) vs. Godby (30-1) on Thursday at 2:30pm at the Lakeland Civic Center.
5A Semifinals
Nature Coast vs. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) 6:00pm (Thursday)
American Heritage (Plantation) vs. Lake Wales 8:00pm (Thursday)
The Sharks were moments from this point last season when they ran into a buzzsaw and eventual 4A Champions Leesburg on their homecourt. This season they had to go on the road and handle their business at Gainesville-Eastside on Saturday and did it in convincing fashion. They’ve got Tyler Bergantino, a 6-9, 235lb PF/C that’s averaging 18ppg. as well. Good news for Nature Coast is that their opponents from Duval have already been hammered by Eastside. Bad news is that the Braves are battled-tested coming off a hard-fought “w” out in Panama City defeating Rutherford High School. Parker is 23-5 on the season while Nature Coast is 29-1. Their only loss coming to Eustis at the beginning of district play all the way back in the beginning of December. They’ve also defeated regional powers Clearwater and Boca Ciega and have a 5-point victory over Plant to their credit as well. Winner of this game faces the winner of American Heritage (Plantation) vs. Lake Wales on Saturday at 10:00am.
7A Semifinals
Oviedo vs. Oak Ridge (Orlando) 2:30pm (Friday)
St. Petersburg vs. Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) 4:30pm (Friday)
The Green Devils epitomize everything that is awesome about the playoffs. They’re the cinderella’s of this classification defeating the No. 4 team in the state from Martin Co. by a point on the strength of two free-throws in the waning seconds of the game. This isn’t nearly the first encounter they’ve had with victories over Northeast, Seminole and now the upset over the visitors from Stuart. They’ll also get arguably the toughest challenge in all of the classes proving whether or not they truly are magical. They get the No. 19 team in the nation according to ESPN and No. 1 team in 7A the state in the form of the Ely Tigers. The two actually have a common opponent this season. Both have laced them up against Tampa Catholic with St. Pete falling to the Crusaders by nine and the Tigers thumping TC 90-57. Ely’s lone losses come to Top 10 nationally-ranked Bishop Gorman and Montverde Academy whi is essentially the prep equivalent of a traveling all-star team. Winner plays for the title at 5:00pm on Saturday Evening in Lakeland.
The rest of the schedule:
1A
West Gadsden vs. Chipley (10:00am Tuesday)
Union County vs. Hawthorne (12:00pm Tuesday)
2A
FAMU vs. Orlando Christian Prep (2:30pm Tuesday)
Grandview Prep (Boca Raton) vs. Champagnant Catholic (Hialeah) (4:30pm Tuesday)
6A
Wolfson (Jacksonville) vs. Leesburg (10:00am Friday)
Winter Haven vs. Norland (12:00pm Friday)
8A
Hagerty (Oviedo) vs. Vero Beach (7:00pm Friday)
Spanish River (Boca Raton) vs. Hialeah Gardens (9:00pm Friday)
Look for a breakdown of the rest of the games, in addition to all of the things you’ll need to know in advance of the coming games. Let’s hope the fellas bring some hardware back to the area. Good luck!