Class 5A-6A State Tournament Preview
The FHSAA boys basketball state tournament starts on Monday and Class 5A and Class 6A action will start on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. After a long season and hard work, we are down to four teams, two matchups in…
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Continue ReadingThe FHSAA boys basketball state tournament starts on Monday and Class 5A and Class 6A action will start on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
After a long season and hard work, we are down to four teams, two matchups in both 5A and 6A.
Here is a look at the four state semifinals with a schedule, times and predicted champions.
ICYMI:
Class 1A State Tournament Preview
Class 2A State Tournament Preview
Class 3A State Tournament Preview
Class 4A State Tournament Preview
Class 5A
State Semifinal, 2 p.m., Wednesday – Andrew Jackson vs. Tampa Catholic
This will be the fourth consecutive trip to Lakeland for Tampa Catholic. The Crusaders (24-6) lost to eventual state champion University in last year’s state semifinal before falling the state title game in 2017 and the state semifinal in 2016. Tampa Catholic went to St. Andrews on Friday and won 62-59 and are now searching for its second state championship ever and first since 1995. 2020 trio Kobe Knox, Johni Broome and Marcellus Crutchfield have been big all season for TC. As for Andrew Jackson (24-6), this is the Tigers first state tournament since 2002 after a 61-46 victory over Florida State High. 2019 guard Joshua Knox, 2020 forward Logan West and 2019 guard David Daniels can all score in bunches for Andrew Jackson.
State Semifinal, 4 p.m., Wednesday – The Villages vs. University
The Villages (23-7) missed out on the state tourney after making it in 2017 and losing to Tampa Catholic in the semifinal round. Now, the Buffalo are fresh off a 97-72 road region final win over Cocoa. 2019 UF signee Tre Mann is the real deal with 2019 fellow 2019 starters, forward Brandon Farmer, forward Peyton Williams and guard Terry Ivery helping the cause. The daunting task remains against reigning state champion and last year’s Geico Nationals runner-up University School (25-4). The Sharks slipped past Westminster Christian 39-36 to move on. 2019 Duke signee Vernon Carey Jr. and 2020 guard Scottie Barnes are a dangerous duo with 2020 guard Roger McFarlane and the Howard brothers, 2020 guard Jace and 2022 Jett playing heavy minutes.
Predicted state champion
University
As athletic as The Villages, Tampa Catholic and Andrew Jackson are, it is beyond difficult to pick against University School. This isn’t the same Sharks team a year ago that flaunted superb guard play with Division I pieces Drue Drinnon and Trey Doomes alongside Carey Jr. and Barnes. However, Carey Jr. and Barnes are still fantastic athletes and the pieces around them are good enough. It would be a major upset if anyone beat University School. I’m not saying it is impossible because the Sharks aren’t as dominant, but having two legit NBA prospects is a hard task to stop for an entire game.
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Class 6A
State Semifinal, 6 p.m., Wednesday– Paxon vs. Lakewood
Paxon held off Rickards 62-59 to push forward to its first state tournament since 1965 when the Golden Eagles beat Hillsborough 54-52. Paxon (25-3) have 2020 forward Isaiah Adams as the centerpiece with 2020 guard Mike Caswell and 2021 guard Maurice Willie Jr. doing plenty. The Golden Eagles have no seniors on the roster but feature seven juniors. Their opponent will be Lakewood, who is back in Lakeland for the first time since 2014 when it lost to Plantation American Heritage. The Spartans beat Lake Wales 70-60 to move on. 2019 guard Jalen White, 2020 forward Jamille Reynolds, 2019 guard Jermaine Phillips and 2021 guard Oteman Delancey all provide tempo on both ends of the floor for Lakewood (26-3).
State Semifinal, 8 p.m, Wednesday – Nature Coast vs. Stranahan
Nature Coast returns to Lakeland for the second time in program history and first since 2012 with a 60-53 win at Palatka. The Sharks (24-5) avenged a region final loss to Palatka from two years ago. 2019 guard Robert Gomez, 2020 forward Orien Adams and 2020 guard/forward Cai Teague are the top contributors. Matching up against Nature Coast will be a fast Stranahan group who beat Eustis 86-62 to advance. The Mighty Dragons (25-6) are back in the state tournament for the first time since 1961 after losing to eventual champion Leesburg a year ago. 2020 trio Inady Legiste, Chayse Culpepper and Dave Herard have all been rock solid alongside 2019 point man Brian Dugazon.
Predicted state champion
Stranahan
This is a pretty open class with all four teams not in Lakeland a year ago. My gut is telling me that Stranahan will have an edge here simply with the mixture of speed and smarts that the Mighty Dragons employ. Legiste has a workmanlike mindset as the team’s big man and the guard play with Herard, Culpepper and Dugazon is fast paced and very fun to watch. The winner of the Paxon/Lakewood matchup will give Stranahan a big run for its money with the athletes on their respective teams. This will be a fun finish here in 6A.