District Tournaments Preview (1A-4A)

January 22nd was the last game day for district tournament seeding, and this Saturday (1/29) is the last day of the regular season. District Tournaments start up the week of 1/31 and all of the seeding has been announced. Some of these districts are loaded, and some are lighter than others.

There are 16 districts per class (only 8 in 1A), each district winner will be seeded 1-4 in their Region based on FHSAA ranking. The next four highest ranked teams will receive at-large bids and receive their 5-8 seeding. That means there are four Regions with 8 teams in each regional (32 total teams in classes 2A-7A). Seed 1 will play 8, 2 will play 7, 3 will play 6, and 4 will play 5. The only exception is 1A who only has 8 districts, so only 16 teams make it to Regionals. Here is a proper link to look at district tournament schedules: https://www.maxpreps.com/fl/basketball/girls/playoffs/

Let’s break it down by class here:

Who has the toughest district?

I’d say District 3 is the toughest with Bishop Kenny, Andrew Jackson, and Bolles all in the top 20.

Here is my prediction for what 4A will shape out to be following the District Tournaments:

Region 1

Bishop Kenny (D3)
Rutherford (D1)
Dunnellon (D4)
Paxon (D2)
South Walton (D1)
Andrew Jackson (D3)
Bolles (D3)
North Marion (D4)

District 3 could have 3 teams in the regional.

Region 2

Lake Highland Prep (D6)
Palm Bay (D8)
Eustis (D5)
McKeel Academy (D7)
Cocoa (D8)
Lincoln Park (D8)
Horizon (D6)
The Villages (D5)

District 8 could have three teams in the regional.

Region 3

Booker (D11)
Academy of the Holy Names (D10)
Port Charlotte (D12)
Weeki Wachee (D9)
Lakewood (D11)
Parrish Community (D11)
DeSoto County (D12)
Gibbs (D11)

District 11 could have four teams in the regional.

Region 4

Calvary Christian Academy (D13)
Mater Lakes Academy (D15)
Cardinal Gibbons (D14)
SLAM Miami (D16)
Monsignor Pace (D15)
American Heritage (D13)
Gulliver Prep (D16)
Killian (D16)

District 16 could have three teams in the regional.

Overall, I think Region 2 is the most top-heavy with the two strongest teams. After that, Region 4, 1, and 3 in that order.

Who has the toughest district?

I’d say District 5 is the toughest. They have 3 teams that could be near the top in every other region. Brooks is #2, CDS is #6, and Seffner is #7 in class 3A.

Here is my prediction for what 3A will shape out to be following the District Tournaments:

Region 1

Florida State University High School (D1)
Providence School (D2)
Trinity Catholic (D3)
Foundation Academy (D4)
PK Yonge (D2)
Episcopal School of Jacksonville (D2)
Father Lopez (D3)
Florida School for the Deaf & Blind (D2)

District 2 could have four teams in the regional.

Region 2

Cardinal Mooney (D7)
Brooks DeBartolo (D5)
Evangelical Christian (D8)
Berkeley Prep (D6)
Carrollwood Day (D5)
Seffner Christian (D5)
Calvary Christian (D6)
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (D7)

District 5 could have three teams in the regional.

Region 3

King’s Academy (D12)
Benjamin (D11)
Avon Park (D10)
Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (D9)
Cardinal Newman (D12)
Saint Andrew’s (D12)
Melbourne Central Catholic (D9)
Cocoa Beach (D9)

Districts 9 and 12 could have three teams in the regional.

Region 4

Westminster Academy (D13)
Miami Country Day (D14)
Somerset Academy Silver Palms (D16)
Ransom Everglades (D15)
Palmer Trinity (D16)
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (D16)
Westminster Christian (D16)
Coral Shores (D16)

District 16 could have five teams in the regional which is the most possible.

Overall, I think Region 2 is the toughest with region 4 being next, and 1 and 3 are a ways behind.

Who has the toughest district?

I don’t think any really stand out. They are all pretty even which gives just about anyone a shot at making their regional. District 4 has St. Johns Country Day and University Christian that are both in the top 10. District 12 has Neumann (#6), Seacrest Country Day (#12), and First Baptist Academy (#15).

Here is my prediction for what 2A will shape out to be following the District Tournaments:

Region 1

St. Johns Country Day (D4)
Florida A&M (D2)
Munroe (D1)
North Florida Educational Institute (D3)
University Christian (D4)
Aucilla Christian (D2)
Oak Hall (D4)
St. Joseph Academy (D4)

District 4 could have four teams in the regional.

Region 2

Faith Christian (D8)
Central Florida Christian Academy (D7)
Calvary Christian Academy (D6)
Meadowbrook Academy (D5)
Geneva (D7)
Orlando Christian Prep (D8)
Merritt Island Christian (D8)
All Saints’ Academy (D7)

Districts 7 and 8 could have three teams in the regional.

Region 3

Neumann (D12)
Cambridge Christian (D10)
Keswick Christian (D11)
Seven Rivers Christian (D9)
Seacrest Country Day (D12)
First Baptist Academy (D12)
Sarasota Christian (D11)
Lakeside Christian (D10)

District 12 could have three teams in the regional.

Region 4

Miami Christian (D16)
Berean Christian (D13)
Boca Raton Christian (D15)
Glades Day (D14)
Hebrew Academy (D16)
St. Edward’s (D13)
Dade Christian (D16)
Pine (D13)

Districts 16 and 13 could have three teams in the regional.

Overall, I think Region 2 is the toughest with the top two teams and four others in the top 20. District 4 does have four in the top ten. I’d say District 3 and then 4 are the last two toughest in that order.

2A Top Players to Watch – Taliah Scott Taliah Scott 5'8" | SG St. John's Country Day | 2023 State #31 Nation FL , Enjulina Gonzalez Enjulina Gonzalez 5'9" | CG Miami Christian | 2022 State FL , Samantha Vales Samantha Vales 5'3" | CG Sports Leadership And Management | 2024 State FL , Ziul Gonzalez, Dezmariah Soto Dezmariah Soto 5'3" | CG Faith Christian | 2024 State FL , Camryn Patterson Camryn Patterson 5'9" | CG Southeastern Preparatory Academy | 2024 State FL , Siarah Brown Siarah Brown 5'10" | CG Orlando Christian Prep | 2023 State FL , Yakiya Milton Yakiya Milton 6'4" | PF Mandarin | 2024 FL , Ameari Logan Ameari Logan 5'9" | CG Florida A&M | 2022 State FL , Tai Baldwin, Leah Martin-Gonzalez, Kailani Merrell Kailani Merrell 6'0" | PG Spruce Creek | 2026 State FL , Ava Graham, Sophia McCartney, Aliani Collazo, Gabrielle Bush, Kimberly Guzman, Kelly Cramer, Ashley Hendricks, Aliyah Harris-Green, Sammi Drawdy, Payton Scholl

Who has the toughest district?

I’d say District 8 is the toughest with Wildwood (#1) and Hawthorne (#3) in there. Those are two teams that could potentially be the best two, but they will have to duke it out (multiple times?) before the state tournament.

Here is my prediction for what 1A will shape out to be following the District Tournaments:

Region 1

Ponce De Leon (D2)
Paxton (D1)
Poplar Springs (D2)
Holmes County (D2)

District 2 could have three teams in the regional which is the most possible.

Region 2

Port St. Joe (D4)
Chipley (D3)
Bozeman (D3)
Altha (D3)

District 3 could have three teams in the regional which is the most possible.

Region 3

Madison County (D5)
Fort White (D6)
Lafayette (D5)
Hilliard (D5)

District 5 could have three teams in the regional which is the most possible.

Region 4

Wildwood (D8)
Trenton (D7)
Hawthorne (D8)
Newberry (D7)

There’s a chance no district could have more than two teams in the regional.

Overall, I think Region 4 is the toughest with two of the top 3 teams and three total in the top 6 that all have postseason experience. Region 1 is a very close second. Region 3 and then Region 2 are next toughest in that order.

1A Top Players to Watch – Kailani Lindsey Kailani Lindsey 6'1" | PF Wildwood | 2023 State FL , Trinidy Harris, Nataya McGee Nataya McGee 5'10" | SF Wildwood | 2022 State FL , Faith McGowan, Jae Lenox, Amani Jones Amani Jones 6'0" | PF Port St. Joe | 2022 State FL , Emma Dalton, Janiyah McKnight, Brooklyn Fleming, Jordan Douglas Jordan Douglas 5'7" | SG Trenton | 2022 State FL , Harley Owens, Aubrey Smith, De’Mya Adams, Jaz’lyn Jackson Jaz’lyn Jackson 5'9" | CG Hawthorne | 2023 State FL , Bri Becker, Carmen Jones, Cadence Alford