February Foolishness: Class 5A Regional/State Preview
The highest seed in each regional game will be the host site for these matchups. You can find the bracket here (https://www.maxpreps.com/tournament/GPeavUOaEeqAzqREozo6lw/DFB9ZkQ6EeqAzqREozo6lw/girls-basketball-winter-19-20/2020-girls-basketball-state-tournament-class-5a.htm)
Instead of March Madness, let’s call it February Foolishness:
Toughest Region: These are the most even regions out of the classes I’ve seen. I would go with Region 1 as the toughest (MaxPreps 5A #2, #3, #7, #8 in this one) with Region 4 just behind them. Regions 2 and 3 are no jokes though with no weak spots at all.
Most Eye-Popping Stat: American Heritage has 3 players that are averaging a double double. I have to imagine that they are the only team in the state that is doing that.
First-Round Upset Alert: The 5 vs. 4 games are going to be very interesting in each region. Choctaw is arguably a top 10 5A team as a 5 seed.
Final 4 Picks: Region 1 – Middleburg, Region 2 – Jones, Region 3 – Jefferson, Region 4 – American Heritage
Here is a breakdown of each region’s teams:
Region 1
- Middleburg (18-6)
- Pine Forest (17-4)
- St. Augustine (18-5)
- Rickards (11-12)
- Choctawhatchee (18-6)
- Fort Walton Beach (19-7)
- Orange Park (20-7)
- Booker T. Washington (16-8)
Players to Watch: (Middleburg) Britany Range, Skylar Baltezegar, Mar’ria Davis, (PF) Danielle Luckey, Tahnyjia Purifoy, Carlysia Santiago,(SA) Brooke Reed, Kyra Stauble, Janiyah Jackson, (Rickards) Ny’asia Green, Ne’aysia Randall, Jakiyah Robinson, (Choctaw) Kyla Abraham, Alexis Becker, Anissia Luton, (FWB) Samantha Sherer, (OP) Macie Faucett, Nia Brown, Sha’mia Capers, (BTW) Janelle Jones, Jamiyah Bryant
Region 2
- Jones (17-9)
- Palm Bay (21-5)
- Lake Gibson (16-9)
- River Ridge (16-12)
- Heritage (21-6)
- Vanguard (15-8)
- Rockledge (16-7)
- Lake Minneola (13-14)
Players to Watch: (Jones) Amani Fitzgerald, Ra’niya White, Alanta Partee, Takiyah Alston, (PB) Mikyla Tolivert, Daija Bean-Laing, Amaya Bozeman, (LG) Honesti Jones, Olivia Hill-Riley McGlashin, (RR) Ices Utegg, Brandi Willard, Caileigh Sheldon, (Heritage) Nubia Benedith, Paxton Krenz, Kelli Howard, (Vanguard) Nasia Powell, Jakecea Rodriguez, (Rockledge) Ashanti Blakely, Tiana Devoe, Jada Williams, (LM) Josiany Canales, Analexy Ortiz, Analiese Harris
Region 3
- Jefferson (19-3)
- Southeast (17-8)
- Barron Collier (19-9)
- Cape Coral (18-8)
- Northeast (22-5)
- Chamberlain (16-11)
- Mariner (19-5)
- Naples (17-10)
Players to Watch: (Jefferson) Jaden Harris, Elayza Jackson, Zanayliah Hutchinson, Bria Brown, (SE) Mikera Patton, Perryauna Youmans, Kayla McDuffie, Charmaine Murray, Ce’Mya Brooks, (BC) Jada McCray, Madyson Walker, (CC) Savannah Lang, Sierra Moore, Haley Lang, Yarily Pacheco, (NE) Kanesha Hall, Jada Ballard, Meya King, (Chamberlain) Adina Davis, Destiny Breton, Dianis Hurtado, Ashley Foster, Jalynn Alexander, (Mariner) D’Yanis Jimenez, Naomi Darrett, Alexia Poposki, (Naples) Sabrina Fakhoury, Molly Richards, Caroline Figueroa
Region 4
- American Heritage (20-4)
- Norland (20-6)
- Jensen Beach (17-6)
- Killian (17-7)
- Central (13-8)
- Okeechobee (20-6)
- TERRA Environmental (16-7)
- Boyd Anderson (13-14)
Players to Watch: (AH) Taliyah Wyche, Tatyana Wyche, Daniella Aronsky, December Stubbs, Maurissa Edwards, (Norland) Jaiyah Harris-Smith, Ronaltha Marc, Tamar Nijhove, Jamyla Mensha-Bell, Emoriah McHenry, (JB) Danica Osdon, Kennedy Cannon, Daisy Galarza, Hope Donow, Ja’shya Christie, (Killian) Toniyah Washington, Jada Beneby, Khaliyah Simms, (Central) Kayla Clark, Dana Thompson, Tatiana Jackson, Chantura Kirkland, (Okeechobee) Alkeecia Clayton, Adryauna Baker, (TERRA) Rachel Hernandez, Stevie Ricklick, (Boyd Anderson) Jateria Jackson, Tanisha Smith