Providence Christian boys and Nease girls continue to hold down the top spot in the second week of the Fab 5 basketball polls of the year. Both look prime for runs to Lakeland, as do Palatka and Middleburg.
Fab 5 Polls
Boys Basketball
1 Providence (4-1)
Last week: 1
def. St. Pete Catholic 76-42, def. Lincoln 52-39
Next: HS912 Invitational at Episcopal (Dec 13-15)
2 Palatka (4-0)
Last week: 2
def. Ponte Vedra 70-65, Matanzas 68-43
Next: at Menendez (Dec 11), Clay (Dec 13)
3 Raines (4-0)
Last week: 4
def. First Coast 52-45
Next: at Bolles (Dec 11)
4 Impact (4-0)
Last week: 5
def. Temple Christian 58-6
Next: at First Coast Christian (Dec 10), at Eagles View (Dec 11), Windermere Prep (Dec 15)
5 Ribault (4-1)
Last week: 3
def. Yulee 86-52, fell to Bishop Kenny 50-36
Next: at Atlantic Coast (Dec 11), HS912 Invitational
Honorable Mention: Atlantic Coast (5-1), Bolles (6-0), Bishop Kenny (3-0), Clay (3-1), Englewood (5-1), Fleming Island (3-0), Parker (3-1), Paxon (3-1), Sandalwood (3-1), St. Joseph (5-0)
Girls Basketball
1 Nease (8-0)
Last week: 1
def. Creekside 71-26, Vanguard 73-33, Boca Raton 73-47
Next: Englewood (Dec 11), at Middleburg (Dec 14)
Note: A clean sweep over three potential playoff bound teams this week kept the Panthers unbeaten for the week. The five some of senior Kiya Turner (10.5 p.p.g., 5.4 r.p.g.), senior Tia Robinson (9.9 y.p.c., 4.5 r.p.g.), senior Constance Hobby (19.9 p.p.g, 10.8 r.p.g.), senior Peyton Carter (9.9 p.p.g, 5.5. r.p.g) and junior Karissa Niles (8.1 p.p.g., 3.3 r.p.g.) continues to lead the Panthers. Through 8 games, only two opponents have been able to keep up with the Panthers losing by less than 20 points, however Nease will get a huge test this week traveling to No. 2 Middleburg Friday night in a key District 3-7A game.
2 Middleburg (7-1)
Last week: 3
def. St. Augustine 66-39
Next: at Bradford (Dec 11), Englewood (Dec 13), Nease (Dec 14)
Note: The four some of junior Britany Range (19.1 p.p.g,, 6.3 r.p.g.), senior Mallory Roney (17.5 p.p.g., 7.0 r.p.g.), junior Mar’ria Davis (10.7 p.p.g., 4.0 r.p.g.), sophomore Skylar Baltezegar (12.9 p.p.g.,10.1 r.p.g.) is tough to defend and continues to lead the Broncos to a great start.
3 Bishop Kenny (6-1)
Last week: 2
fell to Ribault 54-50, def. Tampa Catholic 75-50
Next: Ponte Vedra (Dec 11), Creekside (Dec 15)
Note: Crusaders came up short in key District 3-6A game with visiting Ribault Friday night but rebounded with big win over Tampa Catholic Saturday to split the week. Freshman Maddie Millar (17.0 p.p.g.), sophomore Jasmyne Roberts (19.4 p.p.g, 9.9 r.p.g.) and junior Rose Dolmovich (9.9 p.p.g.) continue to lead the Crusaders.
4 Fernandina Beach (7-0)
Last week: 4
def. Episcopal 60-44
Next: at Raines (Dec 10), Parker (Dec 13), at Baldwin (Dec 14)
Note: The magical run last year to Lakeland has carried over to the start of the this season as the Pirates are off to another solid start thanks to juniors Cartaleyiah Basnight (16.6 p.p.g, 9.l r.p.g.) and Talia Hamilton (12.9 p.p.g, 9.2 r.p.g.).
5 Bolles (5-2)
Last week: 5
Idle last week
Next: at Episcopal (Dec 11), at Ribault (Dec 12)
Note: Bulldogs rebounded from overtime loss to Fernandina Beach with easy win over West Nassau in last game.
Honorable Mention: Bartram Trail (4-2), Creekside (5-1), Fleming Island (2-1), Orange Park (4-1), Ponte Vedra (4-2), Raines (8-0), Ribault (4-2), Ridgeview (5-0), Sandalwood (3-2)
