Previewing the 6A-7A Matchups in Lakeland

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">By Michael Wholey 2/22/23 7:00 AM EST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>The 2023 FHSAA State Tournament starts this week, we take a look at the Class 6A-7A matchups in Lakeland. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>6A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>St. Thomas Aquinas</strong> v <strong>Lake Gibson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":208660,"width":262,"height":280,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/10/66-Khadee-Hession-e1611065390428.jpg?w=958" alt="" class="wp-image-208660" width="262" height="280" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Lake Gibson has leaned heavily on their three headed monster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='449357' first='Samari' last='Wilson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='752545' first='Jamila' last='Ray']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='422725' first='Taniya' last='Brown']</strong>.  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.  [player_tooltip player_id='91641' first='Karina' last='Gordon'] has led them in scoring all season, while underclassmen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248694' first='Nyla' last='McFadden']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219924' first='Khadee' last='Hession']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221678' first='Kamryn' last='Corporan']</strong> are all major contributors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Oakleaf</strong> v <strong>Charlotte</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":371798,"width":293,"height":319,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/image2-e1641245428906.jpeg?w=539" alt="" class="wp-image-371798" width="293" height="319" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">For Oakleaf, it is all about the play of their Senior duo <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166160' first='Kaylah' last='Turner']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91660' first='Fantasia' last='James']</strong>.  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 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91644' first='D'Yanis' last='Jimenez']</strong> along with fellow Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401753' first='Adriana' last='Iorfida']</strong> and Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='470461' first='Kamie' last='Ellis']</strong>.  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 16^th.   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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">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.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>7A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Dr. Phillips</strong> v <strong>Miami Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":583643,"width":229,"height":316,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Joelle-Wilson-Miami-Sr-HS.jpg?w=742" alt="" class="wp-image-583643" width="229" height="316" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">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 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='515779' first='Joelle' last='Wilson']</strong> 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, <strong>Mia Rowe</strong>, <strong>Alexie Sanchez</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221633' first='Sydney' last='Wilson']</strong> 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.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248320' first='Trinity' last='Turner']</strong> is quite possibly the best player in the state and is capable of taking any game over.  Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514550' first='Kendall' last='Perry']</strong> and Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='249436' first='Sariah' last='Johnson']</strong> are her supporting cast and giving them ball handling and outside shooting that is tough to stop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Winter Haven</strong> v <strong>Colonial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":384872,"width":184,"height":370,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/Richardson-Colonial-2024-shot.jpg?w=509" alt="" class="wp-image-384872" width="184" height="370" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">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.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='861097' first='Serenity' last='Hardy']</strong> has been leading the Lady Blue Devils all season in scoring but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166213' first='Bre'asia' last='Washington']</strong> 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.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243892' first='Carmen' last='Richardson']</strong> typically paces Colonial in scoring and can do a little bit of everything, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='731509' first='Jasmynne' last='Gibson']</strong> and <strong>Raenne Eccleston</strong> give them a big presence inside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">It is tough to not take Dr. Phillips as they have proven it all year and they have the best player in [player_tooltip player_id='248320' first='Trinity' last='Turner'].  I am going with Dr. Phillips but would not be surprised if Colonial can go on a run and pull off the upset!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Michael Wholey</strong> 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.&nbsp; If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->