Who Will Win the 1A State Championship?

<strong>Who Will Win the 1A State Championship? </strong> By Michael Wholey 2/24/21 12:00 PM EST <em>We are down to 4 teams.  Who will win the 1A FHSAA State Championship?  We take a look at the matchups.   </em> &nbsp; <strong>1A Match-Ups </strong> TRENTON vs. HAWTHORNE PONCE DE LEON vs. PORT ST. JOE &nbsp; <strong>Who do we predict will win? </strong> <strong>TRENTON (Trenton, FL) 23-4</strong> <em>Trenton has been steamrolling through opponents all season! They are averaging 58 points per game while holding teams to 29 points.  They took down Branford in two consecutive games in the Districts and Regionals.  Let’s take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>Top Players</strong> <strong>2021 Samarie McHenry 5’7 Forward/Center </strong> <strong>Samarie McHenry</strong> has been Trenton’s top player all season averaging a double-double with 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.  She has a big game vs Branford with 21 points on 8/17 shooting and will need to be the team’s offensive firepower in Lakeland to take home the FHSAA 1A State Championship. <strong> </strong> <strong>2022 Jordan Douglas 5’7 Guard </strong> <strong>Douglas</strong> is one of three players for Trenton averaging double digit points.  She is averaging 10.3 PPG and 2.8 APG.  She has been solid all season.  She is a big combo guard who can score off the dribble as well as create scoring opportunities for her teammates. <strong> </strong> <strong>2022 Bri Becker 5’8 Wing/Forward </strong> <strong>Becker</strong> is Trenton’s most versatile and well-rounded player.  Her stat line is impressive and shows her offensive versatility (10.3 PPG. 5.8 RPG, 7.4 APG, 4.9 SPG).  She had big games in back-to-back games vs Branford with 25 points and 16 points in the District and Regional playoffs.  Look for Becker to continue her impressive stat lines in Lakeland to lead Trenton to the championship! <strong> </strong> <strong>Here is the scouting report on the competition: </strong> <strong>HAWTHORNE (Hawthorne, FL) 19-4 </strong> <em>Hawthorne took down Wildwood for the second year in a row.  They have won 7 in a row with several close losses to some of Florida’s top teams.  They are winning by an average 22 points per game.  Let’s take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Jayla Williams 5’7 Guard/Wing</strong> <strong>Jayla Williams</strong> is the team’s leading scorer averaging 11.1 PPG.  She also is the team’s most well rounded and versatile player, who in addition to being the team’s leading scorer, she is averaging 3.5 RPG, 7.4 APG, and 6.5 SPG.  She is a big guard, who is athletic, and a very good defender. <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91484" first="Mya" last="McGraw"] 6’3 Forward/Center</strong> <strong>McGraw</strong> signed with UNC Charlotte in the fall and is averaging 11.0 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.9 BPG.  The 6’3 Forward/Center has been solid all season and is a major force inside.  She has had a solid regional playoff performance with 12 points on 5/8 from field vs Wildwood in the 47-29 win and 12 points on 6/8 from field vs Fort Meade.  In order for Hawthone to take home the championship, they will need two big performances from <strong>McGraw</strong> in Lakeland. <strong> </strong> <strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="247122" first="Jaz’lyn" last="Jackson"] 5’9 Guard/Wing</strong> <strong>Jackson</strong> has been solid all season and is one three players for Hawthorne averaging double figures at 10.0 PPG.  She is an excellent rebounder from the guard position averaging 7.8 RPG and is a pest on defense averaging 3.7 SPG.  She had a very efficient offensive floor game shooting 5/7 from the field vs Fort Meade for 13 points. <strong> </strong> <strong>PONCE DE LEON (Ponce De Leon) 20-2 </strong> <em>Ponce De Leon enters the Final 4 in Lakeland with a 20-2 record and are beating opponents by an average of 24 points.   After starting the season 3-2, the Pirates are on a 17-game winning streak.  Let’s take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Lily Brooks 5’6 Guard  </strong> <strong>Lily Brooks</strong> has been the team’s leading scorer with 15.3 PPG.   She is aggressive guard that can score at the rim and from the perimeter. <strong> </strong> <strong>2021 Jordan Sinclair 5’11 Wing/Forward </strong> <strong>Jordan Sinclair</strong> is averaging 12.3 PPG.   The 5’11 Wing/Forward has been solid all season and is one of two players for Ponce de Leon averaging double digits.  She has great height from the perimeter and can score inside and out. <strong> </strong> <strong>2023 Carmen Jones 5’11 Wing/Forward</strong> <strong>Carmen Jones</strong> is averaging 8.5 PPG and is one of the top Sophomores in Lakeland.  She has been consistent all season and she will need to step up to give Ponce De Leon a third offensive threat for them to take home the 1A State Championship. <strong> </strong> <strong>PORT ST. JOE (Port St. Joe, FL) 14-7 </strong> <em>Port St. Joe is the sleeper in 1A entering Lakeland with a 14-7 record.  They are led by two Juniors and two Sophomores.  Let’s take a look at their top players: </em> <strong> </strong> <strong>2023 Jae Lenox 5’3 Guard </strong> <strong>Lenox</strong> is a 5’3 point guard who can get to the rim and draw defenders to set up drop passes for layups for her teammates.  She is aggressive in transition and tough to keep out of the paint! She is averaging 14.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. <strong> </strong> <strong>2022 Mimi Larry 5’10 Guard/Forward  </strong> <strong>Larry</strong> is a versatile wing / forward who rebounds well from the perimeter.  She is one of two players averaging double figures for the Tiger Sharks.  She is averaging 11.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. <strong> </strong> 2023 <strong>Mari Johnson</strong> 5’11 Forward/Center (9.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG) and 2022 <strong>Amani Jones </strong>6’0 Forward/Center (9.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG) hold down the paint for Port St. Joe. They are both are averaging close to a double-double and have had several throughout the season.  They give Port St. Joe a strong interior presence as very few teams in 1A have two Forward/Centers 5’11 and 6’0. &nbsp; &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.