Girls basketball preview: Breakdown of each district as postseason play begins this week
The Big Dance is connected to the NCAA Tournament, it's February Madness on the high school scene as district tournaments have arrived this week.
District champions receive automatic berth to the FHSAA state postseason while four additional teams can earn at-large bids based on FHSAA rankings.
Girls teams across get the basketball postseason started on Monday, with championship games scheduled for Friday.
Before all the fun begins, here are predictions and a breakdown of every district involving an area team.
Region soccer: These Treasure Coast-area teams qualified for FHSAA state tournament
More basketball: Point guard Tyson Wilson continues to shine as Treasure Coast hoops dismantles Okeechobee
District 7-7A
Host: Higher seed
District seeds: No. 1 Palm Beach Gardens (19-3), No. 2 St. Lucie West Centennial (13-9), No. 3 Fort Pierce Central (17-8), No. 4 Palm Beach Lakes (11-10), No. 5 Vero Beach (11-8), No. 6 Treasure Coast (13-12), No. 7 Jupiter (5-15)
Defending champion: Palm Beach Gardens
Favorite: Palm Beach Gardens
What to know: This is the best district in Region 2-7A. Four teams would be playoff bound according to the latest FHSAA rankings, with the Gators head and shoulders above the group.
Palm Beach Gardens cruised to the top seed after winning 19 of 22 games, including a perfect 5-0 mark against district opponents. Kyana Poitier has been unstoppable in a stellar senior campaign, as the team captain pours in 18.5 points and an eye-popping 15.0 rebounds per game. The forward’s rebounding average is good for sixth in the state across all classifications.
Contenders: St. Lucie West Centennial, Fort Pierce Central
What to know: Centennial is the district opponent that played PBG the best. During this meeting on Dec. 29, the Eagles (13-9) were ahead at the end of the first quarter before falling 60-50. The only Centennial player to score in double figures that night was Jailyn Williams, a sophomore that continues to impress with every passing game. The 6-foot power forward tops the teams in points (18.6 PPG) and rebounds (11.2 RPG).
Slotting in as the third seed are the Cobras, who were just 0.077 FHSAA rating points behind the Eagles. The team is enjoying its best season in five years, and is doing so thanks to defense and rebounding. Opponents are just scoring 39.6 points per game against FPC while the team grabs 41 boards per game. Leading the group on the glass is 6-4 sophomore center Lovely Gabriel (10.9 RPG)
Centennial and Central split their two regular-season meetings this season.
District final prediction (sure to be wrong): Palm Beach Gardens over Fort Pierce Central
District 8-6A
Host: Martin County
District seeds: No. 1 Martin County (15-7), No. 2 Sebastian River (16-5), No. 3 Heritage (11-8), No. 4 Viera (10-13), No. 5 Melbourne (8-16)
Defending champion: Viera
Favorite: Martin County
What to know: The dynamic backcourt duo of Karolina Ramirez and Becca Witt have helped the Tigers earn their fourth consecutive winning season. The duo accounts for 55 percent of the team’s scoring, with Ramirez serving as the team’s leading scorer at 13.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Witt produces across the board (12.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 4.9 SPG) as the team’s most versatile player.
Overall, Martin County has been a wave of ups and downs. The squad opened the season with wins in their first nine games before dropping seven of the next nine. With wins in their last four games, the Tigers are in search of their first district title since 2009.
Dark horse: Sebastian River
What to know: The Sharks were demolished by 20 points in their season opener against the Tigers. But it isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish. And while the schedule has been easy, Sebastian River has taken care of business as of late, losing just once since Dec. 22. Opponents are averaging just 27.5 points per game against the Sharks.
District final prediction: Martin County over Sebastian River.
District 14-5A
Host: American Heritage
District seeds: No. 1 American Heritage (18-6), No. 2 Boynton Beach (18-6), No. 3 Suncoast (12-8), No. 4 Jensen Beach (12-11), No. 5 Northeast (13-9), No. 6 Dr. Joaquin Garcia (5-11)
Defending champion: American Heritage
Favorite: American Heritage
What to know: No question who is expected to win this district. Ranked fifth overall from the FHSAA and seventh nationally according to MaxPreps, the Patriots are in position to return to championship glory.
American Heritage had its streak of five-straight state titles broken last season following a one-point in the title game against Mainland. With only one senior, this year’s version is fairly young, but the program remains loaded. The team’s top player is Jasleen Green, a 5-9 sophomore guard who currently holds Division I offers from UCF and George Mason.
If they can get through their quarterfinal game, the Falcons would have a semifinal date with the Patriots. The two teams met in last year’s district title game, with American Heritage rolling to a 77-27 victory.
Jensen Beach enters districts on the bubble, holding the final at-large bid in Region 4-5A.
District final prediction: American Heritage over Suncoast
District 13-5A
Host: Higher seed
District seeds: No. 1 Lincoln Park Academy (23-2), No. 2 Eau Gallie (13-11), No. 3 Bayside (13-9), No. 4 Okeechobee (3-12), No. 5 Westwood (5-16), No. 6 Rockledge (7-13), No. 7 Satellite (10-12), No. 8 Merritt Island (4-18), No. 9 Port St. Lucie (2-18)
Defending champion: Eau Gallie
Feb. 3 play-in game: Merritt Island 39, Port St. Lucie 28
Favorite: Lincoln Park Academy
What to know: Much like American Heritage, odds are overwhelming in favor of the Greyhounds and longtime longtime head coach Wendell Adams hoisting yet another trophy after being denied the past two seasons.
LPA is ranked 66th overall in the state, with only close losses to Martin County and St. Lucie West Centennial on its resume. Second-seeded Eau Gallie is more than 200 spots behind in 271st.
The sister combo of Olivia Titherington and Alexa Titherington have been paramount in Lincoln Park’s success on the floor. Olivia Titherington, a 5-6 sophomore guard, paces the Greyhounds in points (17.7 PPG), assists (5.9 APG) and steals (3.7 SPG) while Alexa Titherington, a 5-9 sophomore, is the team’s leading rebounder (5.7 RPG) and shot blocker (1.3 BPG).
District final prediction: Lincoln Park Academy over Eau Gallie
District 8-3A
Host: Higher seed
District Seeds: No. 1 King’s Academy (15-9), No. 2 Somerset College Prep Academy (14-9), No. 3 Cardinal Newman (7-11), No. 4 Oxbridge Academy (7-11), No. 5 Benjamin (4-13), No. 6 John Carroll Catholic (8-12)
Defending champion: King’s Academy
Favorite: King’s Academy
What to know: Another district, another big favorite.
Ahead of the closest seed by more than 10 FHSAA rating points, King’s Academy is in a great position to snag its fourth district title in a row. The Lions are six games above .500 while playing the hardest strength of schedule of Region 2-3A. They’ve collected strong victories over larger schools such as St. Lucie West Centennial, Martin County and Boca Raton.
Dark horse: Somerset College Prep Academy
What to know: While a district title is unlikely, the Spartans are set to make history by qualifying for their first state postseason in just their second FHSAA season. Somerset is ranked fifth in the region and would be the first team in position for an at-large bid.
District final prediction: King’s Academy over Somerset College Prep Academy
District 14-2A
Host: Higher seed
District Seeds: No. 1 Berean Christian (11-4), No. 2 Atlantic Christian (12-7), No. 3 Pine School (17-2), No. 4 Boca Raton Christian (8-10), No. 5 Grandview Prep (3-8), No. 6 Jupiter Christian (8-9), No. 7 Trinity Christian Academy (5-13)
Defending champion: Berean Christian
Favorite: Berean Christian
What to know: The top-seeded Bulldogs have taken care of business against the division. Seven of the team’s 11 wins this season have come against district opponents. Three Berean Christian players average more than 10 points per game: Ashley Hendricks (16.6), Dylande Innocent (13.4) and Yemeli Tavarez (11.1). Hendricks (11.8) and Innocent (11.2) also put up a double-figure total in rebounds.
Dark horse: Pine School
What to know: The Knights are one of the district teams the Bulldogs have not played. In one of the best season’s in school history, Pine improved its win total by 12 games from a year ago. Of the team’s two defeats, one came via forfeit and the other was a five-point loss to No. 2 seed Atlantic Christian on Jan. 15.
Emily Shirk is the Knights’ best player. The 6-0 junior forward averages 25.4 points on 42 percent shooting and 14.0 rebounds per game.
District final prediction: Berean Christian over Pine School
District 13-2A
Host: Higher seed
District Seeds: No. 1 Merritt Island Christian (14-8), No. 2 Morningside Academy (16-5), No. 3 St. Edward’s (11-7), No. 4 Florida Prep (0-8), No. 5 Pineapple Cove Classical Academy (5-17)
Defending champion: Merritt Island Christian
Favorite: Merritt Island Christian
What to know: The Cougars claimed the top seed after getting up to a 7-0 start. The team only went 7-8 the remainder of the season, but was never blown out in a single loss, as its worst defeat was by 13 points.
Dark Horse: Morningside Academy
What to know: Looking to avenge last season’s defeat to MIC in the district title game, the Eagles will likely need to win the district to advance to the state playoffs. Morningside Academy is ninth in Region 4-2A, but only sixth in the race for an at-large bid.
The team will likely need a good showing from the only senior on the roster. Giuliana Bonasera paces the Eagles in scoring (12.7 PPG) and rebounds (12.1).
District final prediction: Merritt Island Christian over Morningside Academy
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Girls basketball: Treasure Coast teams begin district tourneys this week
