Things have changed. Last night, Class 5A’s Lake Howell beat Winter Haven by 28 points, handing the latter its worst home loss in the last 20 years and its first loss before the regional final in the last 10 years. Lake Howell was led by Mississippi State signee Ashley Jones with 28 points and 15 assists.
Wheeler and Lutley received Honorable Mention in the WBCA All-American selections and remain strong contenders for for the McDonald’s All American team, due to be announced tomorrow. However, Jones, who has had the best season of anyone, did not even make the list of McDonald’s nominees. Jones missed the first four games of the season with an illness and since she has come back, Lake Howell has beaten Bishop Moore, Lake Mary, and Winter Haven -- three of the top teams in Florida. While Lutley and Wheeler have the name value, Jones has proven it on the court and deserves to be Ms. Florida Basketball this year. It is pretty clear when you see her game today, that her decision to leave the Orlando Comets and join Tennessee Flight last summer has changed her game. Ashley's Flight team won Nike Nationals last summer. That championship mentality has transitioned to the high school game and Lake Howell, who is now ranked Number 16 nationally, sees little in its way to claiming the Class 5A title.
Class 6A
Lake Mary defeated University Tuesday and will face Buchholz at home on Saturday. Lake Mary is a heavy favorite in the game and is expected to advance to Lakeland, where they should face Edgewater in the first state Class 6A semi-final match-up. Edgewater has gotten 51 points in two playoff games from Alexis Prince and will face Sarasota High School at home on Saturday. Lake Mary beat Edgewater early in the season, but in my opinion, Edgewater should be the favorite to win their game in Lakeland.
In South Florida, Miami Norland continues its undefeated season and should face the winner of Atlantic and Miramar at state. Miramar defeated defending state champion South Broward for the second time in two weeks on Tuesday night. Miramar is coached by Clyde Glover who won several state championships at Miami Pace. Look for Norland to roll though state.
Sleeper Team: Edgewater. The last time Edgewater made it to state was two years ago. They won it all, beating Miami Norland in the championship game that year. They might just have what it takes to do the same this year.
Difference Maker: Alexis Prince,6’1”, G/F, FR, Edgewater. If Prince dominates like she can, there may not be anyone in 6A who can beat Edgewater, a team that has not lost since before the new year.
Class 5A
Clearwater fell to a young Tampa Jefferson team last night. An expert who saw Jefferson on Tuesday said they should be a lock to win their next match-up against Boca Ciega on Saturday. Boca Ciega is led by Latavia Dempsey who has picked up an offer from North Carolina State and had Baylor at her game on Tuesday. Jefferson is led by super-soph Laurie Beaty who is one of the most underrated guards in 2011 in the South.
Bypassing Lake Howell, which as previously discussed, seems to be steamrolling its way to the Class 5A finals, here’s how the rest of the pack shapes up. Dillard had beaten Nova the last two times but was unable to get them Tuesday night as Nova, one of the early season favorites in 5A, advanced to the regional final. Nova is led by junior sensation Jassany Williams.
In North Florida, Pensacola Pine Forest will have to travel to Bartram Trail where they are a heavy favorite. The last time Bartram Trail played in the regional final they had Steffi Sorensen (Florida, Guard), but still lost to Dillard, which was led by former Ms. Florida Basketball Erica Brown, in the state semi-finals.
Sleeper: Tampa Jefferson. Jefferson starts two sophomores and a freshman but may be the most talented team besides Lake Howell in 5A. If they rebound and defend like they did versus Clearwater, teams will have a problem sending them home.
Difference Maker: Shayla Wilson, 6’2’’, F, FR, Tampa Jefferson. While Alexis Prince is getting a lot of press, many think Shayla Wilson will end up being a big-time post prospect out of the Tampa area. Wilson dominated in Jefferson’s game against Clearwater and is making a name for herself quickly.
Class 4A
Andrew Jackson has battled in Region 1 with Pensacola and Bianca Lutley for the past three years and one thing is very different this year: There is no Bianca Lutley at Pensacola. (Lutley has moved to Class 3A’s American Heritage.) That opens the door for Jackson to make it to their second final four in four years.
South Fort Myers is a favorite to defeat Lake Wales and make it to consecutive final fours, despite the transition to their second coach in two years. In South Florida, Astronaut should win its region on the road in Ft. Lauderdale when they face Archbishop McCarthy.
Bishop Moore will face St. Augustine for the second time in three years and is a heavy favorite to repeat as state champions. St. Augustine is led by Madison McDonald who is another elite-level sophomore guard in Florida.
Bishop Moore won class 4a last year and returns the majority of their team so the results should not be much different this year.
Sleeper: Jacksonville Jackson. Jackson has lost to Bishop Moore several times the past few years and the laws of averages would make you think they would get them once. Maybe it could be this year at state?
Difference Maker: Deaundra Young, 6’2’’, F, JR, Astronaut: Young struggled in the first meeting with Bishop Moore this season but if the two teams meet again, she will be the most talented player on the floor. If Young dominates for Astronaut the Hornets could be in trouble in Lakeland.
Class 3A
Jacksonville Ribault has won eight state championships, but although they are hot this season, they will face a tough Parkway or American Heritage team at state. Parkway won last year with Erica Wheeler and Rutgers’s Chelsey Lee but this is a younger team and may not be ready for all the lights. If Bianca Lutley has the game of her career she may be able to keep Wheeler and crew out of Lakeland for the first time under Adam Hopkins. The likelihood is that Parkway will win it all again but it should be interesting.
In the North, PK Yonge is likely to beat young upstart Lake Highland Prep which is led by Alexis Brown. Yonge, led by Jaterra Bonds who has recently committed to the University of Florida, has not lost yet this season.
Sleeper: Jacksonville Ribault. An eight-time champ hardly seems like a sleeper, but given the competition this year, Ribault appears to be something of an underdog. Still, winning is in their blood and although they are young they have the talent and depth to make some waves.
Difference Maker: Alexis Brown,5’7”, G, SO, Ribault. Brown is one of the top sophomores in Florida and if she carries Ribault, they may have a chance at getting title number nine.
Class 2A
Favorite: Community School of Naples
Difference Makers: Sunshine Reid, 5’9’’, G/F, JR, Lafayette, and Michelle Woods, 5’10’’, G, SO, Community School. This talented pair will play one-on-one for the Class 2A State Championship. Lafayette lost in the final last year but is well coached and will give Community all they can handle.
Class 1A
Favorite: Lake Worth Christian
Lake Worth beat defending state champs Trinity Christian on Tuesday and are led by West Virginia signee Antishia Wright.