Predicting the 7A FHSAA State Playoffs
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Predicting the 7A FHSAA State Playoffs By Michael Wholey 2/15/21 12:00 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 7A FHSAA State Playoffs
By Michael Wholey 2/15/21 12:00 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 7A teams still alive in the Regional playoffs and who we think will take home the championship!
7A
Who are we predicting?
Plant High School (Tampa, FL) 22-3
Kendal Cheesman Kendal Cheesman 6'2" | PF HB Plant | 2021 State FL and Nyla Jean Nyla Jean 5'7" | PG HB Plant | 2021 State FL have been pacing the Panthers all season leading them to a 22-3 record heading into the regional semi-finals. The duo is averaging over 35 points per game accounting for 50% of the team’s points. Their 3 losses have been by 2, 10, and 10 to Braden River, Montverde Academy and American Heritage otherwise outscoring opponents by an average of 31 points per game. Cheesman is headed to Vanderbilt and Jean is headed to Georgia State next season, look for this pair to lead Plant to a 7A State Championship!
Who is in their way?
Oakleaf High School (Orange Park, FL) 22-2
Oakleaf has had quite the season as well, standing at 22-2 heading into the regional semi-finals. Their lone losses are to Hawthorne and Bishop Kenny. Oakleaf has a big 3 of Sophomores in Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL , Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL , and Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL who are averaging a staggering 54 of their teams 65 points per game. If Oakleaf continues its winning ways, they could potentially meet HB Plant in the Final 4 in Lakeland with the winner heading to the State Championship game. Oakleaf has just as good of chance as anyone to take home the 7A championship and with their big 3 all being Sophomores, look for them to be good for several years and potentially take-home multiple championships!
Palm Beach Lakes High School (West Palm Beach, FL) 10-1
Palm Beach Lakes has played a limited amount of games due to COVID-19 and have a 10-1 record heading into the regional semi-finals. FIU signee Zaida Gonzalez Zaida Gonzalez 5'9" | CG Palm Beach Lakes | 2021 State FL has been putting the Palm Beach Lakes on her back all season averaging an impressive 22.1 points per game. Her floor game is impressive shooting 44% from 3 and 57% from 2 while getting to the FT line 3.5 times per game. Deborrah Seitu-Redmon Deborrah Seitu-Redmon 5'8" | CG Palm Beach Lakes | 2021 State FL has been Gonzalez’s sidekick all season averaging 12.6 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game, giving the Rams a solid 1-2 punch.
Gulf Coast High School (Naples, FL) 21-5
Gulf Coast has six players averaging between 7 and 12 points per game. They share the ball, space the floor, and let it fly from outside shooting over 15 3-point attempts per game. They have played a solid schedule with several solid victories (Carrollwood Day, Seffner Christian, Barron Collier) as well as a few close losses to some of the state’s top teams (Brooks DeBartolo, Westminster Academy, HB Plant, Dunbar, American Heritage). Their balanced offensive attack and unselfish play make them challenging to game plan for as you can not take any one player out of the game. Reese Tremitiere Reese Tremitiere 6'1" | PF Gulf Coast | 2022 State FL leads the Sharks averaging a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds per game while Katie Ambrose Katie Ambrose 5'5" | PG Gulf Coast | 2022 State FL , Jordyn Robinson Jordyn Robinson 5'7" | SG Gulf Coast | 2021 State FL , Madelyn Leslie Madelyn Leslie 5'10" | SG Gulf Coast | 2023 State FL , and Ellonda Francois Ellonda Francois 5'10" | PF Gulf Coast | 2021 State FL are all capable of dropping double digits or more any night!
Who are the sleepers?
Colonial High School (Orlando, FL) 16-9
The Grenadiers are 16-9 and one of the youngest teams in the state with their six leading scorers being Freshman and Sophomores. They don’t score a ton of points but if they can hold their opponents to under 50 points, they got a chance at taking down anyone! More than 50% of the teams shots on the season have been from 3, solid defense and some high percentage outside shooting from Sophomores Sophya Barreiro Sophya Barreiro 5'4" | CG Colonial | 2023 State FL and Milan Santos Milan Santos 5'3" | PG Colonial HS | 2023 State FL and Freshman Dezmariah Soto Dezmariah Soto 5'3" | CG Faith Christian | 2024 State FL and Carmen Richardson Carmen Richardson 5'8" | CG Colonial | 2024 State FL are their recipe to pull off the upset!
Miami Senior High School (Miami, FL) 12-8
The Stingarees are 12-8 and have played one of the top schedules in the state. They are the defending 7A State Champions and are capable of getting hot and making a run if they are clicking on all cylinders. Coach Sam “Boozer” Baumgarten always has his squad ready to play and if their opponent is not ready to handle pressure, it could be a long night. If Miami Senior were to make a run look for Kiara Cruz Kiara Cruz 5'4" | SG Miami Sr HS | 2021 State FL and Janay Quinn Janay Quinn 5'2" | PG Miami Sr. HS | 2022 State FL to spearhead the run!
Spruce Creek High School (Port Orange, FL) 18-5
Spruce Creek has been leaning on Seniors Kacie Oelkers Kacie Oelkers 5'8" | SG Spruce Creek | 2021 State FL (13.9 PPG), Richainti Harrell (12.8 PPG), and Emma Perna Emma Perna 5'6" | PG Spruce Creek HS | 2021 State FL (8.1 PPG) along with Junior Tyja Beans Tyja Beans 6'0" | PF Spruce Creek | 2023 State FL (11.0 PPG). They have won 8 of their last 2 with a 1-point loss to DME Academy and a 4-point loss to Mainland. It looks like they are peaking at the rim time and playing their best basketball at the right time.
Regional Quarter-Final Matchups RESULTS
Region 1
Oakleaf 66 – Lake Mary 63
Spruce Creek 67 – Nease 63
Colonial 53 – West Orange 43
Timber Creek 70 – Dr. Phillips 52
Region 2
Oak Ridge 69 – Haines City 34
Windermere 52 – Lake Nona 22
Riverview Sarasota 58 – Steinbrenner 32
Region 3
Palm Beach Lakes 53 – Centennial 37
Jupiter 48 – Vero Beach 41
Deerfield Beach 71 – Spanish River 57
Boca Raton 67 – Coral Springs 44
Region 4
Gulf Coast 62 – West Broward 10
Western 53 – Dr. Krop 48
Miami 61 – Braddock 20
Palmetto 71 – Southwest 47
Regional Semi-Final Matchups Tuesday February 16 @ 7 PM
Region 1
Oakleaf v Spruce Creek
Colonial v Timber Creek
Region 2
Oak Ridge v Windermere
HB Plant v Riverview Sarasota
Region 3
Palm Beach Lakes v Jupiter
Deerfield Beach v Boca Raton
Region 4
Gulf Coast v Western
Miami v Palmetto
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.