Top-ranked Nease (Ponte Vedra) is three wins away from its first state title in 20 years
GAINESVILLE – Nease (Ponte Vedra) has been on a mission.
Since last year’s loss at Choctaw (Fort Walton Beach) in the Class 7A Region Final, the Panthers (28-1) have lost only one game.
They remained on top of The Prep Zone Power Poll heading into tonight’s Region Final at home against Booker T. Washington (Pensacola).
The Panthers, who received all seven first-place votes, are looking to snap a 3-game losing streak in the regional finals and advance to the state semifinals in Lakeland. Oddly enough, Nease won the 1999 state title with a win against BTW in the championship game.
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) has already punched its ticket to the state semifinals. The Lady Blue Wave (27-1), who have yet to lose to a Florida team, will face the No. 1 team in the country, 5-time state champion Miami Country Day, in the Class 4A state semifinals on Wednesday.
Third-ranked Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) won at Lake Gibson (Lakeland), 50-29, in Tuesday’s FHSAA Regional Semifinals, and they defeated Auburndale, 68-17, in last Thursday’s opening round. The Green Wave (26-2) could meet Nease for the title if the two win out.
Spruce Creek (Port Orange) was ranked fourth, but the defending 9A state champions lost to Sandalwood (Jacksonville) in Tuesday’s Regional Semifinals, dropping the Hawks (22-6) to ninth.
The Saints (20-6), who lost to Spruce Creek in the 9A-District 1 championship game, travel to Wekiva (Apopka) tonight seeking their first state semifinal appearance since 1995.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) moved up a spot from fifth to No. 4. The Crusaders (27-2) defeated current No. 11 Ribault (Jacksonville), 56-41, in Tuesday’s Class 6A Regional Semifinals, ending the Trojans’ season at 17-9.
Raines (Jacksonville) rounds out the top five. The Vikings (26-4) moved up one spot into the top five following wins against previous #12 Bolles (Jacksonville), 58-45, and Bradford (Starke), 54-33, in the Class 5A state playoffs.
Sandalwood is up three spots to sixth, followed by Bartram Trail (St. Johns), Middleburg, Spruce Creek, and Trenton, which is headed to the 1A state semifinals, in the top 10.
Hawthorne (22-4), which also advanced to the 1A state semifinals, made the biggest jump in the rankings. The Hornets, who advanced to their 2nd state semifinal all-time, moved up eight spots from 20th to 12th following a 55-50 win against previous No. 11 Lafayette (Mayo) in the Region Final.
Class 6A Menendez (St. Augustine) (17-10) moved into the rankings for the first time this season at No. 16 following a 56-35 win at Eastside (Gainesville) to advance to their first regional final in school history.
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 GIRLS BASKETBALL POLL #7
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (7A) (7) (28-1) – 140
2. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (4A) (27-1) – 127
3. Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (7A) (26-2) – 124
4. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (27-2) – 121
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (26-4) – 108
6. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (9A) (20-6) – 105
7. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (23-6) – 97
8. Middleburg (7A) (21-6) – 83
9. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (9A) (22-6) – 75
10. Trenton (1A) (25-3) – 69
11. Ribault (Jacksonville) (6A) (17-9) – 58
12. Hawthorne (1A) (22-4) – 54
13. Weeki Wachee (6A) (25-4) – 50
14T. Orange Park (6A) (22-6) – 39
14T. University Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-5) – 39
16T. Menendez (St. Augustine) (6A) (17-10) – 36
16T. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (22-4) – 36
18. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (17-10) – 35
19T. Fernandina Beach (5A) (22-5) – 13
19T. Vanguard (Ocala) (7A) (18-9) – 13
Also receiving votes: Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (2A) (11-11) – 12; Flagler Palm Coast (9A) (20-4) – 11; Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (14-7) – 6; Creekside (St. Johns) (8A) (20-9) – 5; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8A) (14-9) – 5; Impact Christian Academy (2A) (17-4) – 4; Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (19-8) – 4; Branford (1A) (22-6) – 1.
