5 Big Bend girls basketball teams qualify for FHSAA state tournament
Now the real work begins for five girls' basketball teams in the Big Bend as they advance onto the state tournament in hopes of raising a state title in Lakeland.
Munroe and Florida High will be hosting, while Aucilla Christian, Madison County, and Rickards are all on the road to open regional quarterfinal play.
Class 2A through 7A quarterfinals and Class 1A semifinals will be played on Thursday; 2A through 7A semifinals and 1A finals will be played Tuesday, Feb. 14. The 2A through 7A championship round will be played Friday, Feb. 17.
The final four will be played at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland from Feb. 22 to 25.
More:Munroe, Florida High, Madison County repeat at girls basketball district champions
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1A-2: No. 3 Aucilla Christian at No. 2 Port St. Joe
The Warriors will get a chance to avenge their regional championship loss to the Tiger Sharks as they rematch Port St. Joe, on the road, in 1A-Region 2 semifinals. The 39-60 loss on Friday snapped a five-game winning streak for Aucilla Christian and extended the title drought in Monticello to four seasons.
Port St. Joe is riding a five-game winning streak, bumping its season record to 12-8 on the year. They've knocked off Big Bend competition before this season, picking up wins against Lincoln, Wakulla, and Taylor County. Last season, the Tiger Sharks made a run to state semifinals, falling to state runner-up Wildwood. The winner will face No. 1 Graceville or No. 4 Liberty County.
1A-3: No. 4 Madison County at No. 1 Hawthorne
The FHSAA has stated that district. champions could head on the road in quarterfinal play. This is one of those situations as 1A-District 3 champion Madison County will head on the road to top-seeded Hawthorne. The Cowgirls are looking for their fourth straight trip to Lakeland, defeating Hilliard, 46-36, to win the district title this season.
Hawthorne is 11-5 on the year, topping Newberry, 64-48, to win the 1A-District 6 title. The Hornets come into regional play riding a five-game winning streak and are ranked as the No. 7 team in their classification. They've also earned impressive wins over Buchholz, and Trinity Catholic, and narrowly fell to Gainesville. The winner will face No. 2 Newberry or No. 3 Hilliard.
More:Class 1A state tournament bracket
2A-1: No. 5 Ocala Meadowbrook at No. 4 Munroe
For the second straight season, the Bobcats will be hosting a regional quarterfinal matchup, hosting Ocala Meadowbrook. Munroe has dominated 2A play this season, dispatching North Florida Christain, 59-26, to win the Class 2A District 1 championship. The Bobcats have picked up notable wins over Rickards and Madison County and played tight matchups with Jacksonville Providence, Florida High, and Orange Park St. Johns Country Day.
Meadowbrook earns an at-large bid after being upset by Oak Hall in the Class 2A District 4 championship, 36-33. The Mustangs are 20-4 on the year notably beating Aucilla Christian twice. Last season, Munroe defeated Gainesville Oak Hall, 40-24, before falling to state semifinalist Jacksonville University Christian. The winner will face No. 1 Orange Park St. Johns Country Day or No. 8 St. Augustine St. Joseph.
More:Class 2A state tournament bracket
3A-1: No. 5 Ocala Trinity Catholic at No. 4 Florida High
Only one of two Big Bend teams that will be hosting regional quarterfinal games, Florida High is looking to make back-to-back trips to Lakeland, hosting Ocala Trinity Catholic. The Seminoles blew out Marianna, 65-18, to win the Class 3A District 1 title, and have stood as the top team in the Big Bend. Last season they won the district title before falling to Westminster Academy in state semifinals.
The Celtics draw an at-large bid after narrowly falling to top-seeded P.K. Yonge, 51-47, in the Class 3A District 2 championship game. Ocala Trinity Catholic is 16-10, with a Big Bend win over Leon, and a loss to Rickards. The winner will face No. 1 Jacksonville Providence or No. 8 Starke Bradford.
More:Class 3A state tournament bracket
5A-1: No. 6 Rickards at No. 3 Orange Park Ridgeview
The only LCS team to crack the regional tournament this winter is Rickards, who will get a chance to avenge its district championship loss against Ridgeview. After a dominant win over Baker County, 58-8, in Class 5A District 2 semifinalist, the Raiders were upended by the Panthers, 56-42, in the championship game. It's the second straight season Rickards has lost in the district title game.
Ridgeview is 20-7 on the year, only losing five games this season to Jacksonville area schools. Last season, the Raiders fell to Orange Park, 69-59, in regional semifinals. The Panthers fell to state semifinals Pensacola Pine Forest, 69-31, in regional quarterfinals. The winner will face No. 2 Fort Walton Beach or No. 7 Pensacola Washington.
More:Class 5A state tournament bracket
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 5 Big Bend girls basketball teams qualify for FHSAA state tournament
