Providence (Jacksonville) remains No. 1 in regional rankings as regular season heads into last two weeks
GAINESVILLE– January is usually when the high school basketball season becomes a bit of a grind.
District tournaments are still two weeks away, and teams usually play three or four games per week.
Providence (Jacksonville) keeps rolling on.
The Stallions (15-5) are 6-0 so far in 2024 and 4-0 in the last two weeks, with wins over state-ranked Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale), then-No. 18 Riverside (Jacksonville) and RV North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville).
They received six of 11 first-place votes this week to remain in the top spot of the all-classification regional rankings.
Paxon (Jacksonville) remains No. 2 in The Prep Zone Power Poll, moving out of a tie with Williston from the previous rankings.
The Golden Eagles (16-2), who received two first-place votes, have won eight games in a row since a loss to No. 4 Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) on December 15.
Williston (19-2) also received a first-place vote despite dropping to 3rd. The Red Devils were 4-1 the last two weeks with wins over then-RV Buchholz (Gainesville) and 7A state-ranked Seminole (Sanford).
Their only loss came to defending 4A state champion Mater Lakes Academy (Miami) at the Wally Keller Classic in Port Charlotte.
Andrew Jackson is 4th.
The red-hot Tigers (16-3), who received two first-place votes, have won 12 games in a row with their last loss on December 12 at No. 6 Ribault (Jacksonville).
Mainland (Daytona Beach) rounds out the top five.
The Bucs (14-5) won four out of five games the past two weeks, with wins against Spruce Creek (Port Orange), Melbourne, and IMG Academy Blue (Bradenton) and their only loss in that span came to Potters House Christian (Jacksonville).
Ribault (15-5) moved up a spot to 6th, after a 4-0 slate the past two weeks.
Episcopal (Jacksonville), Raines (Jacksonville), Ponte Vedra, and Leesburg round out the top 10.
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 – 2023-24 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #3
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record through 1/22, and total voting points)
1. Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (6) (15-5) – 210
2. Paxon (Jacksonville) (4A) (2) (16-2) – 205
3. Williston (1A) (1) (19-2) – 194
4. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (4A) (2) (16-3) – 191
5. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (14-5) – 170
6. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (15-5) – 163
7. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (15-3) – 156
8. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (16-5) – 148
9. Ponte Vedra (6A) (14-6) – 132
10. Leesburg (5A) (12-3) – 112
11. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (13-5) – 104
12. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (15-5) – 94
13. Hilliard (1A) (16-2) – 74
14. Eustis (4A) (15-4) – 71
15. Newberry (1A) (13-4) – 62
16. New Smyrna Beach (6A) (15-4) – 61
17. Fort White (1A) (13-4) – 36
18. Riverside (Jacksonville) (5A) (12-7) – 19
19. Palatka (4A) (17-3) – 15
20. Gainesville (6A) (12-8) – 14
Also receiving votes: Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (3A) (12-5) – 13; Deltona (5A) (15-6) – 12; Hawthorne (1A) (9-4) – 10; Mount Dora Christian Academy (2A) (13-8) – 9; San Jose Prep (Jacksonville) (3A) (10-7) – 8; The Villages (4A) (11-10) – 8; Central (Brooksville) (4A) (15-4) – 7; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (10-8) – 4.
