4A Championship Preview: Bishop Kenny vs Lake Highland Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday, February 25, 2023, 12:30 p.m. (RP Funding Center: Lakeland, Florida)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be No. 2 vs No. 1 in the Class 4A Girls Basketball State Championship, as the No. 2 Bishop Kenny Crusaders (30-1) battle the No. 1 Lake Highland Prep Highlanders (24-6) on Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders are in the state championship game for the sixth consecutive season and are seeking their fourth straight state championship, defeating Booker 65-35 in the state semifinal. The Highlanders were led by 5'7 junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='243885' first='Jada' last='Eads'] who finished with 15 points and 7 assists in the semifinal win, while [player_tooltip player_id='91649' first='Eleecia' last='Carter'] added 14 of her own. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Crusaders are back in the state championship game for the first time since 2020, where they lost to Lake Highland Prep 61-46. The Crusaders got back into the state championship game following their 69-47 win over Cardinal Gibbons in the semifinal, behind Kennesaw State signee [player_tooltip player_id='247118' first='Sophia' last='Rueppell'] finishing with a game-high 17 points. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='217663' first='Sydney' last='Roundtree'] added 15 of her own in the state semifinal win over Cardinal Gibbons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch For Bishop Kenny: 5'8 senior [player_tooltip player_id='247118' first='Sophia' last='Rueppell'] (Kennesaw State signee), 6'1 junior [player_tooltip player_id='248345' first='Clare' last='Coyle'], 6'0 junior [player_tooltip player_id='217663' first='Sydney' last='Roundtree']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch For Lake Highland Prep: 5'7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='243885' first='Jada' last='Eads'], 5'8 senior [player_tooltip player_id='91649' first='Eleecia' last='Carter'], 5'9 junior [player_tooltip player_id='217666' first='Briana' last='Rivera'], 6'0 junior [player_tooltip player_id='217664' first='Lexi' last='Blue']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How Did Bishop Kenny Get Here? Defeated West Florida 66-28 (Regional Quarterfinals), Defeated Ribault 70-43 (Regional Semifinals), Defeated Rutherford 50-43 (Regional Finals), Defeated Cardinal Gibbons 69-47 (State Semifinals)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How Did Lake Highland Prep Get Here? Defeated North Marion 90-21 (Regional Quarterfinals), Defeated Eustis 71-31 (Regional Semifinals), Defeated Palm Bay 67-45 (Regional Finals), Defeated Booker 65-35 (State Semifinals)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Lake Highland Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->