Gulf Breeze soccer, Navarre girls basketball top area teams in initial FHSAA rankings
Days before the Christmas holiday, the Florida High School Athletic Association released its initial rankings in soccer and girls basketball on Tuesday.
Gulf Breeze reigns supreme on the pitch, earning the highest rankings among local teams for both boys and girls soccer. Navarre is the area's top-ranked team for girls basketball.
With a 5-2-1 record this season, the Dolphins girls claimed the top spot in the Region 1-5A with a rating of 18.765. They are third in Class 5A and 17th overall.
The team collected a 2-1 victory at Pace on Dec. 10 to kick off six straight matches on the road. That stretch includes a six-hour trip to Montverde on Jan. 8.
As for the boys team, Gulf Breeze (15.607) is 7-1-2 this season and positioned second in Region 1-5A, trailing only unbeaten Arnold (8-0-1).
The Dolphins have not been defeated in their last five matches. Next, Gulf Breeze is host to West Florida at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4.
Cast your vote: Who should win PNJ Athlete of the Week for Dec. 13-18?
PNJ Basketball Leaderboard: Escambia, Santa Rosa county stat leaders before Christmas break
PNJ Soccer Leaderboard: Escambia, Santa Rosa county stat leaders entering Christmas break
Meanwhile, the Jaguars boys and girls programs have impressive debuts rankings under head coach Mason Clarke.
The Lady Jaguars (11.865) are coming off back-to-back 8-0 triumphs in their last two matches. With that, West Florida is ranked second in Region 1-6A, 10th in Class 4A and 92nd overall.
Less than a point ahead of the Lady Jaguars is Navarre (12.174). The Raiders are ninth in Region 1-6A, 17th in Class 6A and 85th overall.
Victorious in five of their last seven matches, the West Florida boys (9.382) garnered the top spot in Region 1-4A. At 7-4-2, they are 12th in Class 4A and 118th overall.
In addition to Gulf Breeze, only two other area boys teams have performed better than the Jaguars: Booker T. Washington and Tate.
With 14.398 rating, the Wildcats (fifth in Region 1-6A, 12th in 6A, 45th overall) have won their last five matches to improve to 7-2-1. The Aggies (seventh in Region 1-6A, 14th in 6A, 49th overall) hold a 13.944 rating. They are unbeaten in 10 matches and have relinquished just three goals this season.
On the hardwood, Navarre (20.054) occupies the No. 2 spot in Region 1-6A. The team is seventh in Class 6A and 23rd overall.
Winning their first 10 games, the Raiders raced off to their best start in program history before falling 50-36 at home to Fort Walton Beach last Friday. The Vikings (20.472) are ranked first in Region 1-6A.
Pine Forest is the only other local girls basketball team ranked among the top-100 squads in the state.
The Eagles (13.310) are fourth in Region 1-5A, 12 in Class 5A and 79th overall.
Took a look at where each area team faired below:
Girls Soccer
District 1-6A
Navarre (12.174) - 9th in Region 1-6A, 17th in Class 6A, 85th overall
Pace (10.735) - 11th in Region 1-6A, 20th in Class 6A, 103rd overall
Tate (3.396) - 14th in Region 1-6A, 46th in Class 6A, 218th overall
Booker T. Washington (-5.154) - 22nd in Region 1-6A, 73rd in Class 6A, 371st overall
District 1-5A
Gulf Breeze (18.765) - 1st in Region 1-5A, 3rd in Class 5A, 17th overall
Milton (2.922) - 7th in Region 1-5A, 39th in Class 5A, 237th overall
Escambia (-5.850) - 13th Region 1-5A, 59th in Class 5A, 382nd overall
Pine Forest (-17.411) - 18th Region 1-5A, 87th in Class 5A, 511th overall
District 1-4A
West Florida (11.865) - 2nd in Region 1-4A, 10th in Class 4A, 92th overall
Pensacola (0.454) - 9th in Region 1-4A, 41st in Class 5A, 277th overall
District 1-3A
Pensacola Catholic (11.865) - 11th in Region 1-3A, 44th in Class 3A, 258th overall
Boys Soccer
District 1-6A
Booker T. Washington (14.398) - 5th in Region 1-6A, 12th in Class 6A, 45th overall
Tate (13.944) - 7th in Region 1-6A, 14th in Class 6A, 49th overall
Navarre (0.053) - 19th in Region 1-6A, 68th in Class 6A, 305th overall
Pace (-0.570) - 20th in Region 1-6A, 71st in Class 6A, 318th overall
District 1-5A
Gulf Breeze (15.607) - 2nd in Region 1-5A, 7th in Class 5A, 27th overall
Escambia (-5.762) - 14th in Region 1-5A, 72nd in Class 5A, 420th overall
Milton (-11.618) - 16th in in Region 1-5A, 81st in Class 5A, 490th overall
Pine Forest (-18.747) - 19th in Region 1-5A, 94th in Class 5A, 546th overall
District 1-4A
West Florida (9.382) - 1st in Region 1-4A, 12th in Class 4A, 118th overall
Pensacola (0.456) - 10th in Region 1-4A, 38th in Class 5A, 295th overall
District 1-3A
Pensacola Catholic (10.022) - 4th in Region 1-3A, 12th in Class 3A, 104th overall
Girls Basketball
District 1-6A
Navarre (20.054) - 2nd in Region 1-6A, 7th in Class 6A, 23rd overall
Pace (8.186) - 8th in Region 1-6A, 29th in Class 6A, 151st overall
Milton (6.392) - 10th in Region 1-6A, 35th in Class 6A, 185th overall
Escambia (3.294) - 14th in Region 1-6A, 47th in Class 6A, 239th overall
Gulf Breeze (-0.618) - 15th in Region 1-6A, 60th in Class 6A, 307th overall
Booker T. Washington (-0.828) - 16th in Region 1-6A, 61st in Class 6A, 312th overall
Tate (-19.514) - 24th in Region 1-6A, 99th in Class 6A, 574th overall
District 1-5A
Pine Forest (13.310) - 4th in Region 1-5A, 12th in Class 5A, 79th overall
District 1-4A
West Florida (4.057) - 11th in Region 1-4A, 37th in Class 4A, 232nd overall
Pensacola (-9.965) - 21st in Region 1-4A, 76th in Class 5A, 460th overall
District 1-3A
Pensacola Catholic (-14.683) - 18th in Region 1-3A, 77th in Class 3A, 533rd overall
District 1-1A
Central (-0.506) - 7th in Region 1-1A, 17th in Class 1A, 302nd overall
Jay (-3.493) - 8th in Region 1-1A, 21st in Class 1A, 363rd overall
Northview (-16.869) - 11th in Region 1-1A, 39th in Class 1A, 560th overall
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze soccer, Navarre girls basketball rank high in debut rankings
