High school basketball, soccer: FHSAA releases first rankings of 2022, Pensacola well represented
With the new year upon us, the FHSAA released its updated rankings on Tuesday for boys and girls basketball and soccer.
As you might guess, the Pensacola area is well-represented to begin 2022. Many teams fall into the state's top-100 in their respective sport.
With playoffs on the horizon, squads are going to begin taking a closer look at how the FHSAA ranks their resume in the coming weeks.
Basketball
Beginning with boys basketball, Booker T. Washington has current bragging rights as the area's top squad. They begin January as the 79th overall team in Florida, and 17th overall in Class 6A.
Sitting at 10-2, the Wildcats have surged this season in somewhat surprise fashion. Last year, the team finished at just 6-11, but this year, head coach Dwayne Louis has them realizing their potential.
Describing their on-court bond as a "brotherhood," the Wildcats have won their last three games in a row ahead of Friday's matchup versus a red-hot Pine Forest team.
Coming in at 99th overall is the Gulf Breeze boys, who are also ranked 20th in Class 6A. During the holidays they participated in the Innisfree Hotels Tournament, advancing to the championship round but losing to Princeton Ohio.
Senior guard Reece Bloomberg, the team's top returning scorer from last season, is back at it for the Dolphins in a big way. Tops in the scoring column again, Bloomberg has poured in 17.4 points per game to propel GB to a 9-3 mark.
In girls basketball, there are two schools getting some recognition.
The top spot from the area goes to Navarre who is 24th overall, seventh in Class 6A. They are here due in large part to the reigning PNJ Player of the Year, Rachel Leggett.
Following up a great season with a stellar one, Leggett does it all for the Raiders. Aside from scoring a team-leading 18.9 points per night, the senior also controls a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per contest and a team-leading 4.1 steals.
Leggett reached a milestone on Dec. 30 when she scored her 1,000th career point against Spring Garden (Ala.) She also recently picked up a Division I scholaroffer from Bethune-Cookman University.
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Then comes the Pine Forest girls at 63rd overall, sixth in Class 5A.
They got a big boost this offseason in the addition of West Florida High transfer Niylia Wilkins. As a freshman for the Jaguars, Wilkins scored a tick under 21 points per game, and her scoring prowess has remained apparent.
For the Eagles she is averaging 16.8 points per game this season. However, its teammate Tahnyjia Purifoy leading the way with 17.6 points per night. This duo has led Pine Forest to a 5-1 record versus Florida competition.
Soccer
On the pitch, boys and girls soccer have three teams a piece sitting in the top-100 across the state.
The top boys team for the time being is Gulf Breeze ranked at 24th overall, seventh in Class 5A. Their most recent win was a showing of resiliency, coming from behind in the final five minutes.
Trailing West Florida 2-1, the Dolphins kicked it into gear for two goals, escaping with a 3-2 victory. These efforts have brought their record to 8-1-2 on the year before participating at the Tampa Bay Invitational on Thursday.
Next from the Pensacola area, with not much space between them, is Booker T. Washington and Tate. Ranked 43rd and 46th, respectively, they are ranked 12th and 13th in Class 6A.
The two teams played to a 2-2 draw on November 30th, Tate's only blemish to date. They are 10-0-1 entering Thursday, while the Wildcats are 7-2-1.
In girls soccer, its also Gulf Breeze earning tops honors from the area.
They are 17th across Florida and third in Class 5A. The Dolphins are undefeated versus Florida teams, losing twice to teams from Mississippi. Their tie came with Niceville, ranked 34th in the state.
Entering Thursday allowing less than one goal per game so far this season, Gulf Breeze is built for the long haul and it reflects in the FHSAA's method.
Next is Navarre, who slots in at 84th in the state, 17th in Class 6A. On the shoulders of senior forward Hunter Wallace, the Raiders begin the new year with a 9-4-1 mark. Wallace is the only Navarre player on the roster with double-digit points, registering 24 through nine goals and six assists.
Rounding out the area's teams is West Florida at 89th overall, 10th in Class 4A.
At 6-2-1, the Jags have been the beneficiary of a high-powered scoring attack. They've scored 33 goals through nine games, scoring eight in each of their last two contests.
Lucas Semb can be reached at Lsemb@pensacol.gannett.com or 850-281-7414. Follow him on Twitter at @Lucas_Semb for stories and various Pensacola area score updates.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area teams get recognition in latest FHSAA basketball, soccer rankings
