Previewing the 6A-7A Matchups in Lakeland
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By Michael Wholey 2/22/23 7:00 AM EST The 2023 FHSAA State Tournament starts this week, we take a look at the Class 6A-7A matchups in Lakeland. 6A St. Thomas Aquinas v Lake Gibson Lake Gibson has leaned heavily on their…
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Continue ReadingBy Michael Wholey 2/22/23 7:00 AM EST
The 2023 FHSAA State Tournament starts this week, we take a look at the Class 6A-7A matchups in Lakeland.
6A
St. Thomas Aquinas v Lake Gibson
Lake Gibson has leaned heavily on their three headed monster Samari Wilson Samari Wilson 5'10" | SF Lake Gibson | 2023 State FL , Jamila Ray Jamila Ray 5'7" | PG Dr Phillips | 2026 State FL , and Taniya Brown Taniya Brown 5'7" | PF West Orange HS | 2023 State FL . The three account for 90% of their teams scoring, averaging 50+ points of their teams 55 points. They head to Lakeland riding an 8-game winning streak but taking down St. Thomas Aquinas will be a tall task. STA heads to Lakeland riding their own 10 game win streak and fresh off a Big 8 championship taking down archrival Blanche Ely. With a healthy and deep roster, they are the team to beat. Karina Gordon Karina Gordon 5'8" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State FL has led them in scoring all season, while underclassmen Nyla McFadden Nyla McFadden 5'11" | SF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State FL , Khadee Hession Khadee Hession 5'10" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL , Kamryn Corporan Kamryn Corporan 5'3" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State FL are all major contributors.
Oakleaf v Charlotte
For Oakleaf, it is all about the play of their Senior duo Kaylah Turner Kaylah Turner 5'5" | PG Oakleaf | 2023 State FL and Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL . Turner averages 23.0 points per game while James averages 18.4 points per game. The tandem are capable of taking any game over completely by themselves. Their opponents Charlotte High School is led by Wisconsin signee D’Yanis Jimenez D’Yanis Jimenez 5'9" | PG Charlotte | 2023 State FL along with fellow Senior Adriana Iorfida Adriana Iorfida 5'9" | SG Charlotte | 2023 State FL and Freshman Kamie Ellis Kamie Ellis 5'10" | CG Charlotte | 2026 State FL . They have been up and down all season but appear to be playing their best basketball of the season with their last loss coming over a month ago on January 16th. Jimenez is a playmaker that makes everything go, look for her to be aggressive both creating her own shot and creating shots for her teammates.
Prediction
It is tough to go with anyone other than St. Thomas Aquinas as they are deep and talented with a lot of scoring. In a playoff format, anything came happen but barring extremely cold outside shooting or foul trouble, I predict St Thomas to take home another state championship in 6A.
7A
Dr. Phillips v Miami Senior
In a matchup of last years 7A Finals, Dr. Phillips, and Miami Senior match up this year in the semifinals. Miami Senior is a staple in Lakeland and enters the final four riding a nine-game winning streak and playing some of their best basketball of the season. Senior Joelle Wilson Joelle Wilson 5'11" | PF Miami Senior | 2023 FL is one of the state’s top front court players and has performed extremely consistent all season averaging a double double (16.3 points and 10.1 rebounds) per game. In the backcourt, Mia Rowe, Alexie Sanchez, and Sydney Wilson Sydney Wilson 4'11" | SG Miami Senior HS | 2025 State FL give them a well-balanced offensive attack and allow and the ability to change the games tempo by playing full court defense. On the other end, Dr. Phillips is 28-1 with their lone loss being out of state. Trinity Turner Trinity Turner 5'7" | CG Dr. Phillips | 2024 State FL is quite possibly the best player in the state and is capable of taking any game over. Freshman Kendall Perry Kendall Perry 5'8" | PG Dr Phillips | 2026 State FL and Sophomore Sariah Johnson Sariah Johnson 5'9" | SF Dr.Phillips | 2025 State FL are her supporting cast and giving them ball handling and outside shooting that is tough to stop.
Winter Haven v Colonial
You can pretty much tap Winter Haven into Lakeland year in and year out. They are a strong program that knows how to perform on the biggest stages. Serenity Hardy Serenity Hardy 5'8" | PG Winter Haven | 2026 State FL has been leading the Lady Blue Devils all season in scoring but Bre’asia Washington Bre’asia Washington 5'5" | CG Winter Haven | 2023 State FL is what makes the Winter Haven squad tick. She is a well-rounded offensive player who is dangerous with the ball in her hands and is consistently pushing the tempo creating her own shot and creating for others. Colonial has been one of the state’s most talented squads each of the last three years but have been very young. Ther core nucleus are all now Juniors and Seniors and have one of the deepest and most well balanced rosters in the state with top tier talent both in the front court and the backcourt. Carmen Richardson Carmen Richardson 5'8" | CG Colonial | 2024 State FL typically paces Colonial in scoring and can do a little bit of everything, while Jasmynne Gibson Jasmynne Gibson CG Colonial | 2024 State FL and Raenne Eccleston give them a big presence inside.
Prediction
It is tough to not take Dr. Phillips as they have proven it all year and they have the best player in Trinity Turner Trinity Turner 5'7" | CG Dr. Phillips | 2024 State FL . I am going with Dr. Phillips but would not be surprised if Colonial can go on a run and pull off the upset!
Michael Wholey is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech. Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news. Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.