Predicting the 6A FHSAA State Playoffs
Predicting the 6A FHSAA State Playoffs By Michael Wholey 2/15/21 7:00 PM EST We are two weeks out from the end of this crazy 2020-21 High School season. Over half of the teams in Florida, seasons have concluded. We take…
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Continue ReadingPredicting the 6A FHSAA State Playoffs
By Michael Wholey 2/15/21 7:00 PM EST
We are two weeks out from the end of this crazy 2020-21 High School season. Over half of the teams in Florida, seasons have concluded. We take a look at 6A teams still alive in the Regional playoffs and who we think will take home the championship!
6A
Who are we predicting?
Blanche Ely High School (Pompano Beach High School) 18-1
Blanche Ely is the defending 6A State Champions and are potentially a better basketball team that last season. Their lone loss in the season came to American Heritage and have since won 16 in a row! Their roster is the most talented in the state top to bottom with potentially 8-10 players that could go on to play collegiate basketball. The Tigers are headlined by Ja’Leah Williams Ja’Leah Williams 5'9" | CG Blanche Ely | 2021 State FL , who signed with University of Miami in the fall, and is one of the state’s most prolific scorers and the # 3 player in the class of 2021 rankings. Freshman Janessa Kelley Janessa Kelley 5'9" | SG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL has been consistently one of the top outside threats and Junior 5’8 Guard Michiyah Simmons Michiyah Simmons 5'8" | PG Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL is as dangerous in the open floor as any other guard in Florida! Juniors Zaria Blake Zaria Blake 6'0" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL and Mya Kone Mya Kone 6'1" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL round out the top starting five in the state!
Who is in their way?
Wekiva High School (Apopka, FL) 21-3
When you mention the FHSAA State Playoffs and Lakeland, it is hard to not discuss Wekiva High School as they have been a steady participant over the years. Head Coach Tommie Butts is one of the state’s top coaches and he has one of the state’s top Freshman, Jada Eads Jada Eads 5'6" | PG Lake Highland Prep | 2024 State FL to lean on! Eads is leading the Lady Mustangs in scoring with 12.8 points per game and 4.7 assists per game. They have a rematch on Tuesday against Mainland High School with the winner having a straight path to the State Championship game!
Mainland High School (Daytona Beach, FL) 20-2
Isys Grady Isys Grady 5'11" | SF Mainland | 2021 State FL is one of the top players in the state and is averaging 17 points per game with 10 games over 20 points and a season high 29 points vs First Coast in the Regional Quarter Finals. They have a rematch vs one of their two losses on the season on Tuesday when they take on Wekiva. The winner of that game has a good chance to make a run at winning the whole thing!
Winter Haven High School (Winter Haven, FL) 16-1
Winter Haven High School has one loss on the season, and it is to the number one ranked team in the country, Montverde Academy. It has been a roller coaster season, as the Lady Blue Devils season was put on hold in December and they went six weeks without playing a game! Army signee Trinity Hardy Trinity Hardy 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game while right behind her is a balanced offensive attack of Seniors Jayla Murray Jayla Murray 6'1" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL (9.9 PPG), Shomari Phillips Shomari Phillips 5'11" | SF Winter Haven HS | 2021 State FL (8.5 PPG) and Jasmine Peaks Jasmine Peaks 5'6" | CG Winter Haven HS | 2021 State FL (6.1 PPG), Junior Kayla Smith Kayla Smith 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2022 State FL (9.3 PPG), and Freshman Anovia Sheals (7.0 PPG). Winter Haven has one of the richest traditions in the state and are always a threat come playoff time!
Who are the sleepers?
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 13-4
There often is a saying in sports, “It is hard to beat a team 3 times.” Well Blanche Ely has beaten St. Thomas Aquinas three times this season and now have the tall task of playing a 4th time where St Thomas is looking to avenge their 3 losses from earlier in the season. It looks like the magic number is 50, where if St. Thomas can hold Ely under 50 points, they could potentially take them down. The Raiders will lean on Arkansas signee Samara Spencer Samara Spencer 5'8" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State FL , Juniors Maya Williams Maya Williams 5'6" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL , Jada Green Jada Green 6'0" | PF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State FL , and Bre Gustave, as well as Sophomores Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL and Reina Green Reina Green 5'10" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL . It will take a total team effort and some exceptional defense to take down the talented defending state champions Blanche Ely Tigers!
Charlotte High School (Punta Gorda, FL) 20-2
Aryana Hicks Aryana Hicks 5'4" | PG Charlotte | 2022 State FL (14.3 PPG), D’Yanis Jimenez D’Yanis Jimenez 5'9" | PG Charlotte | 2023 State FL (13.4 PPG), Bella Desjardins Bella Desjardins 5'5" | PG Charlotte HS | 2021 State FL (13.3 PPG) account for over 65% of the teams scoring and have led Charlotte to a 20-2 record and after starting 2-2 are on a 18 game winning streak! In order to make a run, they first must take down Braden River a second time, after defeating them just over a week ago 56-42. Look for the winning of that game Tuesday to be a potential sleeper in the playoffs!
Braden River High School (Bradenton, FL) 12-5
If O’Mariah Gordon O’Mariah Gordon 5'6" | PG Braden River | 2021 State #27 Nation FL is playing, I will never count her team off. She is the states # 1 player in the 2021 class and one of the country’s most explosive scorers, capable of going off for 40+ points any given night! Unsigned Senior Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL is the second half of the Pirates backcourt and the duo combine to average 40 of the teams 55 points per game. Gordon has missed a number of games lately due to injury but if she is on the court, she can lead her squad all the way to a 6A State Championship!
Regional Quarter-Final Matchups RESULTS
Region 1
Navarre 71 – Columbia 42
Buchholz 37 – Milton 21
Mainland 68 – First Coast 56
Wekiva 72 – Atlantic Coast 20
Region 2
St. Cloud 59 – Lake Howell 52
Winter Haven 66 – East River 29
Region 3
Wiregrass Ranch 62 – Seminole 30
Palmetto 71 – East Lake 46
Charlotte 71 – Lehigh 23
Braden River 59 – Dunbar 44
Region 4
St. Thomas Aquinas 55 – Atlantic 26
Blanche Ely 74 – West Boca Raton 15
Lourdes Academy 53 – McArthur 38
North Miami 53 – Doral Academy 44
Regional Semi-Final Matchups Tuesday February 16 @ 7 PM
Region 1
Navarre v Buchholz
Mainland v Wekiva
Region 2
St. Cloud v Winter Haven
Armwood v George Jenkins
Region 3
Wiregrass Ranch v Palmetto
Charlotte v Braden River
Region 4
St. Thomas Aquinas v Blanche Ely
Lourdes Academy v North Miami
Michael Wholey is the Senior Scout of Prep Girls Hoop Florida and he can be reached directly at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or on Twitter or Instagram at @WholeyPrepHoops.