I was able to watch a great game between Faith Christian and CFCA Friday night in a Class 2A District Final. CFCA led early by double figures but it was Faith who would build a 56-39 lead in the second half before CFCA went on a run to cut it to 56-52. Faith responded and pulled out the win 66-59. Holland Harris was the difference in the game with 26 points. She was the best player on the floor all game and led Faith to the win.
Before I go into some other results and analysis I need to go on a bit of a playoff rant. Today when the brackets came out in a riveting show produced by the FHSAA on YouTube, they stated that district champions host, unless they are playing a higher-seeded district champion. However, after the first round the higher seed hosts even if it is a rematch of the district championship which the lower seed won. I don’t care about the results from November. If I beat you last week and we could end up playing for a chance to go to the Final Four I should host that game in the playoffs.
The playoffs in Florida have changed every year over the last 5 years and they still cannot get it right. First off, there are going to be some BLOWOUTS in the first round. Many of these 8-seeds who are at-large teams should not be in the playoffs. I remember playing with 6 classes and being in the playoffs mattered, now it doesn’t. Here is my remedy: have the 4 district champs in the playoffs, give the two highest seeds byes then have the two lower seeds play the first round against the two at-large teams. With 25-40% of the top individual players in Florida not even in the FHSAA anymore, there is a talent drain at the bottom of the tournament, and wait til you see the scores on Thursday night.
Other Meaningful District Results
Westminster Academy over Miami Country Day – Westminster picked a good day to pick up their biggest win of the year 44-40 over Miami Country Day. Markeli Jones-Tynes and Lena Girardi have both matured this season and now are on track for another matchup with Miami Country Day although it will be on the road in two weeks. (see rant above)
Hagerty over Colonial – One point win for Hagerty who picked up much of the Faith Christian squad that went to the Final Four last year. Colonial had been the favorite going into the game. Hagerty won the game, although with the FHSAA system, the win is meaningless because Colonial kept the 2-seed and Hagerty will have to face Colonial at Colonial in the second round.
Oakleaf over Ponte Vedra – Oakleaf dropped the mic on North Florida on Friday night blitzing Ponte Vedra. Kaylah Turner and Fantasia James have been the top two players in a public school in North Florida this season. Oakleaf has a pretty clear path to the Final Four if they can let Turner and James lead the team there for the second time in three years.
St. John’s Country Day over University Christian – University Christian has had St. Johns’s number the last two years but Taliah Scott was Taliah Scott with 42 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 charges. Despite the blame on the officials on social media, St. John’s Country Day holds on to the #1 seed in the region and forces University Christian into a match-up with NFEI, who has a slew of international players but hasn’t played much of a schedule this year.
Dr. Phillips over Oak Ridge – St. Thomas and Spruce Creek are the only two teams in Florida this year to play Dr. Phillips to single digits. Dr. Phillips took an 11-point win over Oak Ridge who is really one of the biggest stories in Central Florida this year. Oak Ridge finished 2nd in the Metro East to Colonial and pulled the #2 seed behind Dr. Phillips who’s the top overall seed in the state. Can they pull off the miracle in the Region Finals? Time will tell, but they’ve had one of the best seasons in the state so far.
