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Which Polk boys basketball teams are favored in this week's district tournaments?

Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger
·6 min read

Basketball in Polk County isn’t as deep with top teams as in past years, but the area's best this winter remain among the state's top teams in their respective classifications.

Winter Haven, the county’s best team, is No. 3 in Class 7A, Santa Fe Catholic is the No. 5 team in Class 3A, and Victory Christian is the No 1 in Class 2A, according to the FHSAA rankings.

Beginning with district tournaments the week, the three top teams will try to fend off upsets to keep their hopes alive of reaching the state tournament.

Here is how Polk teams look in their respective district tournaments.

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7A-9: No. 3 Winter Haven should cruise to title

Winter Haven's Isaac Redding goes up for a shot againat Miami Norland on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.
Winter Haven's Isaac Redding goes up for a shot againat Miami Norland on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.

District Rankings: 1. Winter Haven (22-1), 2. Plant City (20-5), 3. Durant (19-6), 4. Ridge Community (8-13), 5. George Jenkins (4-19), 6. Haines City (8-16).

Polk’s Prospects: Winter Haven has won 22 consecutive games and is ranked No. 3 in the state overall behind two other 7A teams and is seeded No. 1 in both the district and the region. The dynamic duo of Isaac Celiscar and Jamie Phillips Jr. are better than ever, but their supporting cast has been outstanding, led by Zay Mosley (11.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Tyrese Mayo (10.0 ppg), Eric Dailey (6.6 ppg), Troy Boswell (7.1 ppg) and defensive standout Isaac Redding. The Blue Devils should cruise to the district title and be only slightly challenged in the regional tournament. They’ll be the only Polk team to advance as Ridge Community is the next highest ranked team in the region at No. 16.

6A-7: Red-hot Bartow looking to meet top-seed Lakeland in final

Bartow's Rick Feliz makes a pass against Gibbs on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.
Bartow's Rick Feliz makes a pass against Gibbs on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.

District Rankings: 1. Lakeland (16-5), 2. St. Cloud (19-5), 3. Bartow (16-9), 4. Lake Gibson (12-13), 5. Liberty (6-16), 6. Kathleen (4-19).

Polk’s Prospects: Lakeland graduated eight seniors, including five of its top seven scorers, and second-leading scorer Derajah Hardy has missed all season with an injury that cost him most of the football season. Yet coach Henderson Taylor has guided the Dreadnaughts to the top seed in the district with four of the five top scorers being football players, led by Jameson Young, Pat Dennis, Shanard Clower and Ben Beymer. Both Lakeland and Bartow, the No. 3 seed in the district and the No. 8 seed in the region, should advance to the postseason. Lakeland beat Bartow by 10 points in early January but the Yellow Jackets have finished the season strong as they have won eight of their last nine games. No Bartow player is averaging in double figures. Jayson Williams missed most of the second half of the season but returned last week and should provide a big boost.

5A-7: Lake Region looking to hang on to playoff spot

Lake Region's Brenton Allen dribbles up the court against Gainesville on Saturday in the Polk Hoops Shootout at Lakeland High School.
Lake Region's Brenton Allen dribbles up the court against Gainesville on Saturday in the Polk Hoops Shootout at Lakeland High School.

District Rankings: 1. Orlando Jones (10-13), 2. Lake Region (13-12), 3. Gateway (9-11), 4. Davenport (11-13), 5. Auburndale (8-17), 6. Lake Buena Vista (9-16), 7. Lake Wales (9-16).

Polk’s Prospects: This district is flipped, as far as Polk teams are concerned, as perennial powers Auburndale and Lake Wales are a combined 17-33 and will be looking to play spoiler. Lake Region is the only Polk team likely to make the playoffs. As the No. 2 seed in the district, the Thunder should be able to hang on to the last spot in the region if they advance to the district title game. Brenton Allen (17.0 ppg) and Dwayne Lattimore (16.6 ppg) are the 1-2 punch. The Auburndale-Davenport winner will face top-seeded Jones in the semifinals. Davenport is seeded one spot higher and will be home, but Auburndale beat the Broncos by nine points in late January.

4A-7: Discovery, McKeel likely to battle for playoff spot in semis

Discovery's Darius Livingston dribbles against Plant City on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.
Discovery's Darius Livingston dribbles against Plant City on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.

District Rankings: 1. Lake Highland Prep (21-3), 2. Discovery (19-5), 3. McKeel (17-8), 4. Orlando Bishop Moore (12-10), 4. Mulberry (13-10), 5. Tenoroc (2-18).

Polk’s Prospects: A likely semifinal meeting between Discovery and McKeel will be key for both their postseason chances, especially McKeel. Discovery is ranked No. 7 in the region and might be able to hang on for to a playoff spot with a semifinal loss, but McKeel is No. 9. The Wildcats need to beat Discovery and maybe even win the district title to qualify for the postseason. Darius Livingston (22.1 ppg) has been a big player for the Spartans with strong support from Willie Wilson (13.6 ppg) and Lucson Jean (12.6 ppg). Alex Sessoms (18.6) will lead McKeel.

3A-7: Santa Fe Catholic poised to make serious playoff run

Santa Fe Catholic's Tate Darner drives to the basket against Windermere on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.
Santa Fe Catholic's Tate Darner drives to the basket against Windermere on Saturday at the Mosaic Stinger Classic.

District Rankings: 1. Santa Fe Catholic (21-4), 2. Bell Creek (13-11), 3. Lakeland Christian (14-7), 4. Seffner Christian (11-14), 5. Frostproof (14-7), 6. Fort Meade (17-6), 7. New Dimensions (9-8), 8. Four Corners (6-12).

Polk’s Prospects: Santa Fe Catholic is heavily favored to win the district and will be looking to make a run to the final four. If the rankings hold, however, the Crimson Hawks will have tough future matchups against Holy Trinity Episcopal and Windermere Prep. Tate Darner is the leading scorer with 18.6 ppg and has strong support from Hudson Dykhuizen (13.4 ppg), Danilo Stankovic (12.9 ppg) and Toby Lane (8.8 ppg, 5.4 apg). Lakeland Christian is No. 9 in the region and will need to beat Fort Meade, then Bell Creek, to reach the district final and have a chance to move into the top eight. The Vikings have been led by Nate Carpenter (13.4 ppg), DJ Howards (10.6 ppg) and Matthew Stephens (10.1 ppg). If Frostproof can upset Seffner Christian in the first round, it will face Santa Fe. Frostproof’s Sevastian Rosado (31.5 ppg) is an exciting scorer. Fort Meade has put together a nice record but is No. 14 in the region.

2A-8: Favored Victory Christian looking to finally break through

District Rankings: 1. Victory Christian (21-4), 2. Legacy Charter (12-9), 3. Moore Haven (15-6), 4. All Saints (11-6), 5. Life Christian (6-15), 6. Oasis Christian (5-16), 7. Ridgeview Global (3-12).

Polk’s Prospects: No. 1 Victory Christian should have no problem getting out of districts. The big test for the Storm likely won’t come until an expected region final against Orlando Christian Prep. The Storm, led by LJ Cason and Mike Andino head into the district tournament with a 15-game winning streak.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: FHSAA District Boys Basketball: Polk County favorites, hopefuls