New No. 1 in all-classification girls hoops rankings
GAINESVILLE – The Class 2A Providence (Jacksonville) girls basketball team is the new No. 1 in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Following a 4-0 record since the last poll, the Stallions (7-1) moved up one spot in the all-classification regional rankings
Providence, which has been to back-to-back final fours, received seven of the nine first-place votes. They had wins against receiving votes (RV) Oakleaf (Orange Park), 62-39, at No. 12 Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 62-58, at No. 17 Ridgeview (Orange Park), 65-31, and against previously RV Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 71-41.
Wildwood (8-0), which is ranked 5th in Florida and No. 1 in the Rural Division, and No. 8 overall in Florida and No. 1 in 5A New Smyrna Beach, are tied for second. They each received a first-place vote.
Previous No. 1 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), last year’s 4A state runner-up, dropped three spots to fourth.
The Crusaders (6-2) defeated current No. 18 Paxon (Jacksonville), 58-16, RV Oakleaf (Orange Park), 60-17, and No. 10 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), 43-33. They lost 48-43 to Ribault (Jacksonville), which entered this week’s rankings at No. 16.
Rounding out the top five is 4A Bolles (Jacksonville) after a 5-0 record since the last rankings.
The Bulldogs (7-3) had wins against Episcopal (Jacksonville), 70-24, vs. No. 15 Gainesville, 87-64, at No. 10 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), 71-46, vs. Seffner Christian, 72-21, and they defeated #35 overall in Florida (MaxPreps rankings) and 7A No. 5 Haines City, 74-43.
Williston, Hawthorne, Spruce Creek (Port Orange), San Jose Prep (Jacksonville), and Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) round out the top 10.
The 6th-ranked Lady Red Devils, who are coached by former P.K. Yonge girls coach Willie Powers, are off to a 7-1 start. Their only loss was at No. 7 overall in Florida and 4A No. 1 Rickards (Tallahassee), 58-52.
Two-time defending state champion Hawthorne dropped four spots to No. 7 but the Lady Hornets (1-0) had only played one game heading into Wednesday night’s game at Bradford (Starke).
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball 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 by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024-25 GIRLS BASKETBALL POLL #3
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 12/17, and total voting points)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (7) (7-1) – 177
2T. New Smyrna Beach (5A) (1) (8-0) – 160
2T. Wildwood (Rural) (1) (8-0) – 160
4. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-2) – 159
5. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-3) – 146
6. Williston (Rural) (7-1) – 113
7. Hawthorne (Rural) (1-0) – 105
8. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (5-3) – 102
9. San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (2A) (5-3) – 86
10. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (7-4) – 75
11. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (9-2) – 59
12T. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (2A) (5-3) – 54
12T. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-1) – 54
14. The Villages (3A) (6-1) – 50
15. Gainesville (5A) (4-3) – 45
16. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-5) – 43
17. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (5A) (5-2) – 39
18T. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (6-2) – 38
18T. Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-2) – 38
20. Beachside (St. Johns) (5A) (5-3) – 37
Also receiving votes: Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (2A) (10-4) – 32; Leesburg (5A) (3-4) – 23; Fort White (Rural) (7-2) – 21; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (1-2) – 16; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (4-4) – 12; Forest (Ocala) (6A) (7-2) – 12; Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (8-0) – 8; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (8-2) – 5; Trenton (Rural) (7-2) – 5; Ponte Vedra (5A) (5-5) – 5; Mount Dora Christian Academy (1A) (5-3) – 5; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (8-2) – 3; Florida School for the Deaf & Blind (St. Augustine) (1A) (8-0) – 2; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (5-6) – 1.
