Colonial, LHP, DP lead Orlando area into girls basketball playoffs
Orlando is home to the three highest-ranked girls basketball teams in the state entering Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs this week.
Colonial is No. 1 among all classifications and the top seed in Class 7A, according to FHSAA power rankings. Lake Highland is No. 2 and Dr. Phillips is third.
Those teams are joined by St. Cloud and Central Florida Christian Academy as No. 1 seeds in their respective regional tournaments.
The Orlando area has 27 teams taking part in region quarterfinal games Wednesday. Winners advance to the semifinal round Friday.
Class 7A Region 1
No. 8 Jacksonville Atlantic Coast (21-3) at No. 1 Colonial (23-3)
No. 4 Timber Creek (17-10) at No. 5 Ocoee (20-5)
No. 7 Hagerty (14-9) at No. 2 Boone (21-4)
No. 6 Lake Mary (20-7) at No. 3 Port Orange Spruce Creek (18-8)
Buzz: Colonial is chasing its third consecutive region championship. Senior Carmen Richardson leads the Grenadiers in points, assists and steals. Ocoee is hosting as a district champion. Senior Micah Hannah averages 15.6 points and Paris Triplett averages 7.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. Timber Creek, 4-0 vs. the Knights all-time, is led by seniors Karishma Ortiz (10.7 ppg.) and Channing Warren (9.5 ppg.) Boone won 49-33 at Hagerty on Feb. 1. Three players average better than 9 points for the Braves, including senior McKenna Murphy at 17 per game. Lake Mary has dropped six in a row vs. Spruce Creek since 2018.
Class 7A Region 2
No. 8 Tohopekaliga (17-3) at No. 1 Dr. Phillips (22-4)
No. 5 Port St. Lucie Centennial (15-10) at No. 4 West Orange (13-12)
No. 7 Palm Beach Central (11-11) at Palm Beach Gardens (21-3)
No. 6 Fort Pierce Central (18-9) at No. 3 Oak Ridge (12-12)
Buzz: Dr. Phillips, winners of 15 in a row, is the back-to-back defending state champion. Senior Trinity Turner averages 19.2 points, 8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Versatile sophomore guard Jamila Ray is new to the lineup after missing the bulk of the season recovering from injury. Toho is enjoying its best season since the school opened six years ago. Senior McKenna Day averages 17.3 points and sophomore Sanaa Charles averages 10.9 points and 9.2 rebounds. Seniors Zoe Calvez (10.8 ppg.) and Zulmalyz Sanchez (8.1 ppg.) lead West Orange. Oak Ridge was a region finalist last year.
Class 6A Region 2
No. 8 New Smyrna Beach (14-6) at No. 1 St. Cloud (21-6)
No. 5 Wekiva (16-10) at No. 4 Lakeland Kathleen (18-8)
No. 7 East River (14-10) at No. 2 Martin County (17-7)
No. 6 Lake Minneola (16-8) at No. 3 Horizon (17-6)
Buzz: St. Cloud seniors Emily Lockey, Haley Collins and Danigzy Mantilla are the team leaders in points and rebounds. Lockey averages 15.5 points per game. Wekiva, a state runner-up in 2022, fell to 2-19 last season. Senior guard Tierra Coleman averages 11.8 points for the Mustangs. East River senior Yariana Lugo-Perez leads the Falcons with 18.1 points per game while Keilani Serrano averages 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. Lake Minneola defeated Horizon 67-63 last February.
Class 5A Region 2
No. 7 Lake Wales (16-10) at No. 2 Leesburg (22-1)
No. 6 Riverside Spoto (17-9) at No. 3 Gateway (18-6)
Buzz: Gateway is the defending region champion. Sophomore Alyssa Marino paces the Panthers with 14.2 points, 6.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game alongside seniors Karyna Rivera (12.1 ppg.) and Malayna Stevenson (8.5 ppg.). Leesburg is in the playoffs after going 1-24 last year. Boys coach Sean Campbell is pulling double-duty on the bench this season for the Yellow Jackets. Sophomore Saige McCloud was averaging 20.2 points through 17 games.
Class 4A Region 2
No. 8 The Villages (13-12) at No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (20-5)
No. 5 Cocoa (16-11) at No. 4 Bishop Moore (12-13)
No. 7 Umatilla (19-6) at No. 2 Palm Bay (20-7)
No. 6 Gainesville Eastside (15-8) at No. 3 Dunnellon (22-3)
Buzz: Lake Highland Prep has won the past four 4A state titles. The Highlanders own three wins vs. The Villages by an average score of 73-21. Five players are averaging at least 10 points per game, including Lexi Blue at 14.4. Bishop Moore, a state runner-up in 2022, returned no starters from last year’s 21-8 region semifinal team. Sophomore Alex Wolsonovich and junior Victoria Zaremba each average double figures in points. Umatilla is led by sophomore Herva Brutus, who averages 14.6 points and 13.4 rebounds.
Class 3A Region 1
No. 2 Jacksonville San Jose (14-9) at No. 7 Tallahassee FSU (12-14)
No. 6 The Master’s Academy (14-10) at No. 3 Ocala Trinity Catholic (16-9)
Buzz: Master’s Academy freshman Brooklyn O’Gallagher averages 21.4 points per game. The Eagles have won four in a row and seven of their last 10, which includes a forfeit loss on Jan. 23 vs. The First Academy.
Class 3A Region 2
No. 8 Foundation Academy (15-10) at No. 1 Seffner Christian (22-4)
No. 5 Port St. Lucie Somerset (16-10) at No. 4 Melbourne Holy Trinity (13-11)
No. 7 The First Academy (15-11) at No. 2 West Palm Beach King’s Academy (17-9)
No. 6 Merritt Island Edgewood (20-6) at No. 3 Windermere Prep (18-6)
Buzz: King’s Academy won 60-50 vs. Seffner in last year’s region final. First Academy freshman Bianca Hall (15.3 ppg) is one of four players averaging at least 8 points. Freshman Avery Michels averages 14.6 points for Foundation, which enters regionals on a three-game skid. Windermere has won 16 of its past 19 games with a roster that includes senior Zoe Sedo, sophomore Alayiah Johnson and freshmen Enioluwa Oyedeji and Mikayla Evans.
Class 2A Region 2
No. 8 Academy at the Lakes (11-9) at No. 1 Central Florida Christian Academy (20-4)
No. 5 Ormond Beach Calvary Christian (14-12) at No. 4 Lecanto Seven Rivers (17-7)
No. 7 Kissimmee City of Life (14-6) at No. 2 Wesley Chapel North Tampa (20-2)
No. 6 Lakeland Victory Christian (15-8) at No. 3 Mount Dora Christian (17-9)
Buzz: Former Wekiva coach Tommie Butts is in his second season with CFCA. Senior Trinity Harden averages 11.4 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Eagles, who have won seven in a row and 12 of their past 13. Mount Dora Christian relies on several underclassmen, including freshmen Sapphira Thompson-Woods and Aranya Alexander. Senior Talia St. Hilaire averages 18.8 points for City of Life.
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
