Gainesville – Wolfson (Jacksonville) remained on top of the Prep Zone Power Poll following district tournament play.
The Wolfpack (26-1) received all eight first-place votes following the 5A-District 4 title. Wolfson will open the postseason at home on Thursday against Ribault (Jacksonville), which defeated Wolfson, 72-68 (OT), in the Gateway Conference championship game on Jan. 23.
The Trojans (16-10) dropped two spots to 16th following a 53-41 loss to No. 3 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) in the 5A-District 3 championship game. The Crusaders (24-3) will host Baker County (Glen St. Mary) in the 5A regional quarterfinals.
Bolles (Jacksonville) remained second. The Bulldogs (25-3) went 3-0, including a 65-49 win over #14 Jackson (Jacksonville). They will open up the 4A state playoffs against Interlachen.
A loss by Creekside (St. Johns) to new No. 17 Oakleaf (Orange Park) (17-8) in the 7A-District 4 championship game, dropped the Knights (22-5) from fourth to seventh and enabled Spruce Creek (Port Orange) to move up one spot to No. 4. The Hawks (21-4) defeated previous No. 19 Flagler Palm Coast in the 8A-District 1 championship game.
Rounding out the top five is Gainesville. The Hurricanes (23-4) rallied from a 20-point first half deficit to defeat Vanguard (Ocala), 52-49, in the 6A-District 4 championship game. The visiting Knights (20-7) had their 13-game winning streak snapped but remained 12th in this week’s regional rankings.
Defending 3A state champion Providence (Jacksonville) moved up one spot to sixth. The Stallions (19-8) will host Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville) in the opening round with a potential rematch against No. 8 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) in the regional final. Providence defeated P.K. Yonge, 66-62, on Dec. 19.
Atlantic (Port Orange) moved up one spot to ninth. The Sharks (26-2) cruised to the 6A-District 5 title with a 67-49 win over state-ranked Deltona (19-8), which dropped four spots from 16th to 20th.
Hawthorne rounds out the top 10. The defending 1A state runner-up Hornets (21-5), ranked second in the state in their classification, have played another tough schedule against higher classification teams.
None of the teams in last week’s poll failed to make the postseason. The next ranking will be released prior to the regional semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
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 – 2015-16 BASKETBALL POLL #7
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 2/6, and total voting points)
1. Wolfson (Jacksonville) (5A) (8) (26-1) – 160
2. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (25-3) – 152
3. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (24-3) – 144
4. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (21-4) – 129
5. Gainesville (6A) (23-4) – 126
6. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (19-8) – 115
7. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (22-5) – 108
8. PK Yonge (Gainesville) (3A) (22-4) – 107
9. Atlantic (Port Orange) (6A) (26-2) – 100
10. Hawthorne (1A) (21-5) – 93
11. Leesburg (5A) (22-4) – 76
12. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (20-7) – 69
13. Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (26-1) – 65
14. Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-7) – 47
15. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (21-6) – 39
16. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (16-10) – 34
17. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (17-8) – 30
18. Dunnellon (4A) (19-8) – 26
19. Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (19-5) – 25
20. Deltona (6A) (19-8) – 11
Also receiving votes: St. Augustine (6A) (19-7) – 10; Lake Minneola (7A) (20-7) – 7; Ponte Vedra (5A) (17-10) – 3; Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona) (2A) (19-8) – 3; St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) (3A) (22-5) – 1.
