Class 7A
Region 3
No. 7 Sumner (16-10) at No. 2 Haines City (20-5), 7
Dynamic guard Briana Gill-Guyette (15.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG) leads Stingrays’ upset bid against high-scoring Hornets. Haines City’s balanced attack (61.8 PPG) features playmaker Zebrielle Canaday (5.3 APG) and the Morris sisters in this 7A playoff showdown.
No. 6 Palm Harbor University (16-6) at No. 3 Venice (17-5), 7
Electric scorer Tessa O’Leary (20.7 PPG) leads the Indians’ high-powered attack against PHU’s balanced offense featuring Leah Barker (13.8 PPG, 12.2 RPG). Hurricanes seek road upset in this 7A playoff clash, but must contain Venice’s dynamic point guard Addison Ivery (6.5 APG) who orchestrates an offense averaging 54 points per game.
Class 6A
Region 2
No. 8 Viera (11-12) at No. 1 Bloomingdale (20-5), 6
High-powered Bulls, averaging 66.7 points behind Noelle Mengel (14.3 PPG), host upset-minded Hawks in 6A playoff matchup. Viera’s Demi Reck (11.1 PPG) leads visitors against Bloomingdale’s stifling defense, which allows just 45.2 points per game.
No. 7 Armwood (17-6) at No. 2 Winter Garden Horizon (17-8), 7
Amaya Richardson (14.4 PPG, 4.8 SPG) leads Armwood’s balanced attack against Horizon’s high-scoring offense (58.4 PPG). Battle of the Hawks features Zoe Corjay (10.4 PPG) and playmaker Sienna Astorino (3.3 APG) in this evenly matched 6A playoff showdown.
Region 3
No. 5 Sunlake (17-7) at No. 4 Sickles (19-8), 7
Dynamic scorer Jadyn Watts (23.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG) powers Gryphons’ high-octane offense against Seahawks’ balanced attack led by Cherity Powells (12.4 PPG). Sickles’ playmaker Kelsey Sharpe (6.4 APG, 6.6 SPG) looks to control tempo in this 6A playoff battle.
No. 6 Mitchell (20-7) at No. 3 Steinbrenner (23-3), 7
Warriors’ star Naomi Parker (18.1 PPG, 4.3 APG) leads high-scoring attack (63.7 PPG) against Mustangs’ balanced offense featuring Kaylana Little (11.0 PPG) and Priya Jacob (9.2 RPG). Steinbrenner’s suffocating defense, allowing just 30 PPG, faces a test in this 6A playoff clash.
Class 5A
Region 2
No. 5 Springstead (20-6) at No. 4 River Ridge (19-8), 7
Lauren Lee (15.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG) leads Royal Knights’ rematch against Eagles, who took the first meeting 49-41 in November. Springstead’s Ariana Willoughby (11.0 PPG, 4.0 APG) looks to engineer a season sweep in this 5A playoff battle.
No. 7 Wesley Chapel (19-8) at No. 2 Leesburg (12-9), 7
Dynamic scorer Sanai Forrester-Jhagroo (16.6 PPG) leads Wildcats against Yellow Jackets’ Alysya Smith (14.3 PPG) in a 5A playoff showdown. Wesley Chapel’s inside presence Charity Davis (7.6 RPG) looks to control the paint in this evenly matched contest.
Region 3
No. 5 St. Petersburg (17-9) at No. 4 Countryside (19-6), 7
Fourth meeting this season between district rivals, with Cougars taking the last two including a 56-42 district final win last week. Green Devils’ Shaw Summer (19.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG) and Cougars’ Alyssa Wright (17.0 PPG, 4.3 APG) lead their teams in this 5A playoff rematch.
No. 7 North Fort Myers (20-5) at No. 2 Clearwater (15-9), 7
Red Knights’ balanced attack led by Bianca Iten (13.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.4 SPG) faces Tornadoes’ high-scoring offense (57.2 PPG) featuring Peyton Flournoy (13.3 PPG). North Fort Myers’ stingy defense, allowing just 29.9 PPG, gets tested in this 5A playoff matchup.
No. 6 East Bay (22-5) at No. 3 Gulf Coast (18-4), 7
District champion Indians, fresh off their first title in school history, ride dynamic scorer Za’myria King (19.6 PPG, 5.4 SPG) into battle against Sharks’ balanced attack led by Lilly Fultz (17.0 PPG). Gulf Coast’s floor general Jena Walsh (4.1 APG) directs the potent offense in this 5A playoff showdown.
Class 4A
Region 3
No. 8 Gibbs (7-14) at No. 1 Sarasota Booker (17-6), 7
Tornadoes aim for a second straight playoff win over Gladiators behind Brianna Behn’s all-around game (13.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG). Gibbs’ Messiah Cook looks to flip the script after last week’s 72-46 loss in this 4A regional clash.
No. 5 Chamberlain (19-6) at No. 4 Weeki Wachee (22-5), 7
Storm’s scoring sensation Ellayna Stephens (23.3 PPG) leads one of Tampa’s up-and-coming teams against Hornets’ balanced attack featuring Joelys Rodriquez (13.5 PPG, 5.7 APG). These programs clash for the first time this season in this 4A showdown.
No. 7 Gulf (14-8) at No. 2 DeSoto County (19-6), 7
Bucs’ attack, led by Tajinae Bonney’s 13.0 PPG, faces dynamic scorer Yahri Tyler (19.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG) and the high-octane Bulldogs offense in this 4A playoff matchup.
No. 3 Lemon Bay (12-10) at No. 6 Robinson (15-8), 7
Knights’ Annie Keith (15.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG) and playmaker Ava Godfrey (5.1 APG) welcome Manta Rays’ scoring threat Maya Collins (16.8 PPG) in this evenly matched meeting.
Class 3A
Region 2
No. 5 Lakewood (17-8) at No. 4 Lake Highland Prep (13-12), 7
High-scoring Spartans, led by Alahni Lovett (16.8 PPG), seek revenge against defending state semifinalist Highlanders in this 3A playoff rematch. Host Lake Highland Prep counters with Myanna Hatchette (11.7 PPG) in a battle between traditional powers.
No. 7 Calvary Christian (19-2) at No. 2 Windermere Prep (19-7), 7
Warriors’ scoring machine Ellie Bross (21.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG) leads Calvary against Lakers’ dynamic duo of Joba Oyedeji (14.3 PPG) and Mikayla Evans in this matchup between 19-win teams.
No. 6 Tampa Catholic (17-11) at No. 3 The Villages Charter (22-5), 7
Buffalo’s dynamic guard Zion Mcrae (17.5 PPG, 3.9 APG) leads high-scoring attack against Crusaders’ Ashley Knox (16.5 PPG) in this 3A playoff matchup between teams who both fell to Williston in the regular season.
Class 2A
Region 3
No. 5 Bell Creek Academy (17-10) at No. 4 Clearwater Central Catholic (22-5), 7
Marauders’ standout Emme Dalhoff (14.8 PPG, 6.7 SPG, 6.3 APG) leads first-time district champions since 1993 against Panthers’ balanced attack featuring Jaslyn Easley (11.3 PPG) in this 2A neutral-site playoff clash.
No. 7 Seffner Christian (16-6) at No. 2 First Baptist Academy-Naples (18-6), 7
Crusaders’ scoring machine Nevaeh Lee (21.1 PPG) leads the offense. The junior guard also stuffs the stat sheet (6.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 6.4 SPG) for a Seffner squad averaging 43.5 points. Lions counter with a dynamic duo Eslynda Bouzi and Zara Stewart, who power an 18-win team allowing just 40.5 PPG.
Class 1A
Region 2
No. 5 Morningside Academy (19-6) at No. 4 North Tampa Christian Academy (16-9), 5
Dynamic guard Arianah Wallace (17.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.1 SPG) leads the visiting Eagles. The Titans counter with the inside-out combo of Cali Midyett (11.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG) and Zoe Bone, who orchestrate a high-scoring attack averaging 53.5 points. Teams split against the common opponent Seven Rivers Christian this season.
Region 3
No. 8 Cambridge Christian (16-7) at No. 1 Seacrest Country Day (20-5), 6:30
The host Stingrays aim to continue their dominant run behind a balanced attack featuring Addy Barley (9.8 PPG) and Taylor Shook (6.6 RPG, 4.2 BPG). Seacrest’s stifling defense holds opponents to just 41 points while averaging 50.8 themselves. Lancers seek a road upset in this 1A playoff clash, having won six of their last nine away from Tampa. The winner advances to the regional final.
No. 7 Canterbury (10-6) at No. 2 Keswick Christian (18-8), 7
MacKenzie Tucker (18.9 PPG) leads Canterbury into a quick rematch after Keswick’s dominant 50-20 win last week. Fresh off their eighth consecutive district championship, the host Crusaders counter with Robyn Cantwell’s all-around game (12.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.0 SPG) and Leah Celosse’s interior presence (6.7 RPG).
Conclusion
Get ready for an exciting series of playoff matchups across various classes in high school basketball. Stay tuned to see which teams will come out on top and advance to the next round!
FAQs
Q: When do the playoffs start?
A: The playoffs start tonight with the region quarterfinals in Classes 7A-1A.
Q: Which teams should we keep an eye on?
A: Some teams to watch include the high-scoring Spartans in Class 3A and the dynamic Warriors in Class 7A.
Q: Where can I find more information about the playoff matchups?
A: For more details on the playoff matchups, check out the capsules previewing area teams in each class.
