ELITE EIGHT TIME: Inside Northeast Florida's regional boys basketball finals Friday
The Florida High School Athletic Association tips off the boys basketball regional finals Friday night across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
All games 7 p.m. Friday unless noted
REGION 1-6A
Ponte Vedra (22-7) at Wiregrass Ranch (26-3)
The Sharks chomped past Wiregrass Ranch 84-59 in last year's playoffs by forcing 27 turnovers, but it's a different Bulls team this time around. Top scorers for Wiregrass Ranch are K.J. Smith (18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Preston Linville (17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds), on an exciting lineup that averages 74.5 points per game. Ponte Vedra might be playing its best basketball of the year now, winning six straight. Sam Ritchie and David Sanchez Barrera are the constants in the backcourt. The winner advances to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland for a March 7 semifinal against an opponent to be determined after the FHSAA re-seeds the final four using its ranking system.
REGION 1-4A
Raines (21-7) at Jackson (24-3)
Can the Tigers complete the season sweep? The state's top-ranked team at Class 4A and winner of 19 straight, Jackson has already beaten Raines 73-51 in the Northwest Christmas Tournament and 57-48 in the Gateway Conference final. The Tigers can score in so many ways, and right now, the hot hand belongs to senior sixth man Jaylen Dopson after his performances in the first two rounds. Young and dynamic, Raines counters with size, including the towering tandem of Makai Purkiss (6-9) and Zion Kemp (6-8) in a tricky matchup for Jackson or for anybody else. The winner progresses to the final four in Lakeland on Feb. 29.
REGION 1-3A
Episcopal (24-4) at Providence (23-5)
On paper, this rivalry has been all Stallions for the past decade, but Episcopal has been closing the gap. Providence won 54-36 on Dec. 9 and 57-46 in the district championship earlier this month, when they got 14 points from Chris Arias, 13 from David Fonville and 11 from Caleb McAbee. But as long as Jacksonville University signee Kent Jackson is on the floor for the Eagles, Episcopal has somebody who can match the Stallions shot for shot, sinking 22 in the last meeting. The interior matchup of Episcopal's 6-7 Tampa signee Grady Schwartz and Providence's Abdul Mansaray could be pivotal. The winner goes to a Feb. 28 state semifinal in Lakeland.
REGION 1-2A
University Christian (17-11) at Impact Christian (17-10)
Impact enters as winner of its last six, including an intense 58-53 district final against UC on 58-53. The contrast in styles is pronounced. Impact brings quickness and championship experience in four-year starter Taylor Thompson, who lined up for the Lions as a freshman in the 2021 final four. UC, which often goes 12 deep, has a towering frontcourt with Adalbert Allotey and Augustine Ayelyine, both 6-9, plus steady scorers like Justin Gist and B.J. Boykin. The winning team goes to Lakeland for a state semifinal on Feb. 27.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Boys basketball playoffs 2024: Jacksonville regional final previews
