Mainland (Daytona Beach) overtakes Providence (Jacksonville) for top spot in all-classification regional rankings
GAINESVILLE – For the first time this season, there’s a new No. 1 in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Mainland (Daytona Beach) boys’ basketball team moved up one spot from second to first following its 23rd straight win. The Class 7A Bucs (24-1) haven’t lost since the second game of the season when Mainland lost in overtime to 8A #2 Edgewater (Orlando) at the Winter Park Rotary Tip-off.
Previous No. 1 Providence (Jacksonville) dropped from first to second. The Class 4A Stallions lost to 9A #3 Vero Beach, 52-50, at The First Academy Shootout in Orlando on Saturday. That snapped a 9-game winning streak for Providence, whose only other losses were at nationally-ranked Montverde Academy & to 2A #1 Miami Christian in OT at the Battle at the Villages in December.
Mainland received six of the seven first-place votes in the all-classification regional rankings, while Providence received five second-place votes and the other first-place vote.
Hawthorne, which is undefeated against Florida competition, is still third, while Fleming Island (Orange Park) remained fourth.
The Class 1A Hornets (20-1) went 2-0 last week to run their win streak to 12 in a row. Their only loss this season was to Bolingbrook (Illinois) at the Kingdom of the Sun in late December.
The Golden Eagles also only have one loss. Fleming Island’s lone defeat this season was on a buzzer-beater in a holiday tournament to current #9 University Christian (Jacksonville). They have won seven in a row.
Rounding out the top five at No. 5 is Eastside (Gainesville), which moved up two spots from seventh following a 67-58 win at previous No. 5 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville). The Class 6A Rams (20-2) have won seven in a row.
The Blue Wave (19-3) only dropped one spot to sixth after wins at Class 3A No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep, 65-55, and defending 1A state champion Wildwood, 54-53.
Palatka is seventh, while Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), which won the Gateway Conference Tournament and has now won 15 in a row, is eighth.
University Christian, whose only losses were on the road – at #8 Jackson, at #7 Palatka & at previous No. 1 Providence, and Paxon (Jacksonville), which lost to Jackson in the Gateway Conference tournament semifinals, round out the top 10 at ninth and 10th, respectively.
Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) is new to the rankings at No. 17. The Class 4A Cardinals (15-7) have won seven in a row & are ranked 33rd overall in Florida by MaxPreps
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.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2018-19 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #5
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 2/2, and total voting points)
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (7A) (6) (24-1) – 139
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (1) (20-3) – 132
3. Hawthorne (1A) (20-1) – 125
4. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (16-1) – 121
5. Eastside (Gainesville) (6A) (20-2) – 109
6. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (4A) (19-3) – 101
7. Palatka (6A) (20-3) – 94
8. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (5A) (20-4) – 93
9. University Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (20-3) – 92
10. Paxon (Jacksonville) (6A) (18-3) – 70
11. Madison County (1A) (18-1) – 67
12. The Villages (5A) (15-7) – 64
13. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (5A) (17-5) – 61
14. Atlantic (Port Orange) (7A) (18-5) – 47
15. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (17-6) – 29
16. Deltona (7A) (16-5) – 27
17. Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-7) – 26
18. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (15-6) – 24
19. Leesburg (6A) (13-7) – 14
20. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (13-10) – 11
Also receiving votes: St. Augustine (7A) (13-6) – 9; Santa Fe (Alachua) (6A) (15-7) – 4; Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (13-6) – 3; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (14-6) – 2; North Marion (Citra) (6A) (15-8) – 2; Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (2A) (16-4) – 2; Eustis (6A) (16-7) – 1; Gainesville (7A) (14-9) – 1.
