Who Will Win the 2A State Championship?

<strong>Who Will Win the 2A State Championship? </strong> By Michael Wholey 2/24/21 4:00 PM EST <em>We are down to 4 teams.  Who Will Win the 2A FHSAA State Championship?  We take a look at the matchups.   </em> &nbsp; <strong>2A Match-Ups </strong> FAMU (Tallahassee) v First Baptist (Naples) City of Life Christian (Kissimmee) v Miami Christian &nbsp; <strong>Who do we predict will win? </strong> <strong>MIAMI CHRISTIAN (MIAMI, FL) 15-7</strong> <em>Miami Christian enters Lakeland with a 15-7 record but has played one of the most challenging schedules in 2A playing some of the state’s top teams like Westminster Academy, Blanche Ely, St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Norland, and American Heritage.  They are battle tested and will be a tough out in the Final 4.  Based on their talented roster and tough schedule, we are picking Miami Christian to take home the 2A State Championship.   Let’s take a look at their top players:  </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>Top Players </strong> <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91546" first="Gabriela" last="Bendeck"] 5’4 Point Guard </strong> <strong><img class=" wp-image-252340 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/02/Gabby-2019-NYC-300x300.png" alt="" width="174" height="173" />[player_tooltip player_id="91546" first="Gabriela" last="Bendeck"]</strong> is one of the top unsigned Senior prospects in Florida and has been doing it all for Miami Christian this season.  She is a dynamic player maker averaging 15.0 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.  If Miami Christian takes home the championship, it will start with <strong>Bendeck</strong>! &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="154908" first="Enjulina" last="Gonzalez"] 5’9 Guard/Wing </strong> <strong><img class=" wp-image-204319 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/80-Enjulina-Gonzalez-2.jpg" alt="" width="216" height="144" />Gonzalez</strong> is a big guard/wing who is averaging 12.5 PPG 6.2 RPG 2.4 APG, and 2.7 SPG.  She uses her length on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.  She has played the role of Robin to <strong>Bendeck’s</strong> role as Batman all season.  She is capable of going off for 20+ points on any given night! <strong> </strong> &nbsp; <strong>Here is the scouting report on the competition: </strong> <strong>FAMU (TALLAHASSEE, FL) 10-2 </strong> <em>FAMU has played a limited number of games getting off to a delayed start, playing their first game the first week of December and taking over a month off from games between mid-December and mid-January.  They have won their last 6 games by 23, 43, 60, 56, 63, and 26 points.  Let’s take a look at their top players:  </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>Top Players</strong> <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91480" first="Erin" last="Turral"] 5’3 Guard </strong> <strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-91615 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2019/09/Erin-Turral-300x172.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="172" />[player_tooltip player_id="91480" first="Erin" last="Turral"]</strong> signed with Stony Brook in the fall and is one of the top scorers in Florida.  She is averaging 28.8 points per game and five 30+ point games this season.   She is a small, strong guard who plays with a fearless mentality.  She is a dynamic scorer who can knock it down deep from 3, score off the bounce, and get to the rim! Turral is always capable of going off on the offensive end and two big games from her in Lakeland could lead FAMU to the championship! <strong> </strong> 2021 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91480" first="Erin" last="Turral"]</strong> is a 5’2 Guard and 2022 <strong>Ameari Logan</strong> is a 5’6 guard that give FAMU a strong 3 headed monster from the perimeter.  The two of them + [player_tooltip player_id="91480" first="Erin" last="Turral"] account for 67% off the teams scoring. <strong> </strong> <strong>FIRST BAPTIST (NAPLES, FL) 10-9</strong> <em>First Baptist enters Lakeland at 10-9 and are coming off two impressive upsets over Evangelical Christian and Hernando Christian Academy.  They are obviously playing good basketball at the right time and will need to continue playing the role of Cinderella to win 2 more games and take home the 2A State Championship! They will have a tough first round matchup vs FAMU.  Take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>Top Players</strong> <strong>2024 Sydney Martin Center/Forward  </strong> <strong>Martin</strong> is one of the top Freshman in Lakeland and leads her team in scoring with 10.9 points per game.  She had 10 points vs Evangelical Christian in the regional semi-finals in the 40-23 upset win. <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Elise Prodanov 5’7 Forward/Center  </strong> <strong>Prodanov</strong> also had 10 points vs Evangelical Christian in the regional semi-finals in the 40-23 upset win.  She and Martin are both averaging double digits with 10.3 PPG.  She is an undersized post who plays bigger than her size and is not afraid to mix it up and play physical down low. <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Katherine Mendez 5’6 Guard </strong> <strong>Mendez</strong> dropped 16 points vs Hernando Christian Academy, getting to the free throw line 11 times shooting 7/11 from the line.  She has been consistent all season for First Baptist and will need to step up in Lakeland, if First Baptist has any chance of continuing to play the underdog role and take home the 2A State Championship! <strong> </strong> <strong> </strong> <strong>CITY OF LIFE CHRISTIAN (KISSIMMEE, FL) 14-6  </strong> <em>Coach Buggs always has COLCA playing well at the right time of the season.  Their aggressive style of play and deep roster make them a contender to take home the 2A State Championship.  They are 6-1 in their last 7 games.  Let’s take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>Top Players </strong> <strong>2024 Camila De pool-maisonet 5’7 Guard/Wing </strong> <strong>De pool-maisonet</strong> has had an extremely impressive Freshman campaign and is doing it in all statistical aspects averaging 14.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.4 APG and 4.9 SPG.  She has had multiple 20+ point performances including a career high 28 points on 11/19 shooting vs Heritage. <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Shanelle Heredia 5’11 Forward/Center  </strong> While <strong>De pool-maisonet</strong> is getting it done from the perimeter, <strong>Heredia</strong> gets it done on the inside.  She has had six double digit rebound games and eight double digit point performances. She is averaging 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. <strong> </strong> <strong>2022 Grace Wener 6’2 Forward/Center</strong> <strong>Wener </strong>has been solid all season averaging 9.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG.  At 6’2 she is extremely versatile and can play inside and out.  The combination of <strong>Heredia</strong> and <strong>Wener</strong> give COLCA two Forwards 5’11 and taller and makes them a tough out with a solid inside presence and a great perimeter scorer. &nbsp; <strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the Senior Scout of Prep Girls Hoop Florida and he can be reached directly at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or on Twitter or Instagram at @WholeyPrepHoops.