TCPalm breaks down girls basketball district tournaments
As girls basketball teams have jockeyed for position entering district tournament play, two teams have stood out as brackets get underway next week.
Okeechobee (District 13-5A) and Vero Beach (District 10-7A) have steamrolled the competition locally and will enter their district tournaments expecting to stamp their place in the state playoffs.
The Brahmans, led by freshman center McKenzie Neal, who is averaging a double-double on the season, are 16-4 and have won six straight entering their district semifinal against the winner of Bayside and Eau Gallie on Feb. 2.
Vero has been even hotter, winning 14 straight games after the Brahmans took down Vero Beach in a 58-35 victory back on Dec. 13.
Both teams took different approaches during the final week of the regular season as Okeechobee did not take the court with the final games counting toward the FHSAA rankings ending on Jan. 22, while Vero Beach defeated Lincoln Park Academy on Wednesday and will play Holy Trinity on Friday.
Led by freshman forward Jaida Civil, who has five games of 20 points or more this season, Vero earned a final FHSAA ranking of No. 28 and is the top team in Region 3-7A, which gives them a backup plan to reach the state playoffs if they were to fall short of a district title.
Okeechobee is in a similar position, as they are No. 44 overall and are No. 2 in Region 4-5A behind American Heritage, meaning if they had a slip-up in their district tournament, an at-large berth would put the Brahmans into the state tournament.
Outside of the area's top two teams, everyone else across the Treasure Coast faces daunting tasks in their districts but some of the top teams may have alternative routes to the postseason if they don't win a championship.
Martin County will enter the District 13-6A tournament as the No. 2 seed behind top seed Seminole Ridge, who has lost just once this season and has the home court advantage on their side.
The Tigers are the No. 7 team in Region 4-6A, which could put Martin County in a position to earn an at-large bid if they were to come up short in their hope for a district title.
St. Edward's will be the No. 2 seed in the District 13-2A tournament and will hope to get a crack at top seed Berean Christian in the championship game after losing to the Bulldogs by only four points on Jan. 4.
The Pirates also are the fourth-highest ranked team in Region 4-2A. That could help St. Edward's pick up an at-large berth to the state tournament if they don't come away with a district title.
Lincoln Park is the No. 3 seed in District 8-4A and has two Brevard County powers they'll need to upset in Cocoa and top-seeded Palm Bay.
The Greyhounds are the No. 5 team in Region 2-4A, which could place them into the state playoffs as an at-large if they need it.
One team that will be a sleeper to watch is Centennial in District 10-7A. The Eagles are the No. 3 seed behind Vero Beach and Palm Beach Lakes. They will badly want to get another shot at Vero after the Eagles won the district title last year on a layup from Kennedy Cannon in the game's final seconds.
The Eagles are in prime position to earn an at-large berth into the state playoffs if they don't win the district as they are the No. 4 team in Region 3-7A based off their No. 78 ranking in the state.
Girls basketball district tournaments
13-2A (highest seed hosts throughout)
Feb. 1
(5) Atlantic Christian vs. (4) Morningside Academy
Feb. 2
Atlantic Christian-Morningside Academy winner vs. (1) Berean Christian
(3) Pine School vs. (2) St. Edward’s
Feb. 4
Championship at highest seed
11-3A (highest seed hosts throughout)
Feb. 2
(3) John Carroll Catholic vs. (2) Jupiter Christian
Feb. 4
Championship
John Carroll Catholic-Jupiter Christian winner vs. (1) Benjamin
8-4A
Feb. 1
(5) Space Coast at (4) Titusville, 6 p.m.
(7) Astronaut at (2) Cocoa, 6 p.m.
(6) Satellite at (3) Lincoln Park Academy, 6 p.m.
Feb. 2 (semifinals at Palm Bay)
Titusville-Cocoa winner vs Satellite-Lincoln Park Academy winner, 5:30 p.m.
Space Coast-Titusville winner vs. (1) Palm Bay, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4
Championship at Palm Bay, 7 p.m.
13-5A
Feb. 1
(5) Bayside at (4) Eau Gallie
(7) Merritt Island at (2) Rockledge
(6) Port St. Lucie at (3) Jensen Beach
Feb. 2
Bayside-Eau Gallie winner vs. (1) Okeechobee
Merritt Island-Rockledge winner vs. Port St. Lucie-Jensen Beach winner
Feb. 4
Championship at Okeechobee
8-6A
Feb. 1
(5) Melbourne vs. (4) Fort Pierce Westwood
Feb. 2
Melbourne-Fort Pierce Westwood winner vs. (1) Heritage
(3) Sebastian River vs. (2) Viera
Feb. 4
Championship at Viera
13-6A
Jan. 31
(5) South Fork at (4) Atlantic, 6 p.m.
(6) Olympic Heights at (3) Dwyer, 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 (semifinals at Seminole Ridge)
South Fork-Atlantic winner at (1) Seminole Ridge, 5:30 p.m.
Olympic Heights-Dwyer winner vs. (2) Martin County, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3
Championship at Seminole Ridge, 7 p.m.
10-7A
Feb. 1
(5) Treasure Coast at (4) Palm Beach Gardens
(7) Fort Pierce Central at (2) Palm Beach Lakes
(6) Jupiter at (3) Centennial
Feb. 2
Treasure Coast-Palm Beach Gardens winner vs. (1) Vero Beach
Fort Pierce Central-Palm Beach Lakes winner vs. Jupiter-Centennial winner
Feb. 4
Championship at Palm Beach Lakes
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: TCPalm breaks down girls basketball district tournaments
