High School Boys Basketball: Regional quarterfinal previews
BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL REGION PREVIEW
Quarterfinal games at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Lake Brantley (20-7) at Sandalwood (21-6): Bradley Hayes had one of the best all-around games anyone has seen in the Saints' win over Flagler Palm Coast in the district title game. Hayes had 22 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks. He's averaging a double-double this season. If Hayes can keep at it, that's only going to open things up further for Luis Santiago (13.9 PPG) and Eric Banks (9.9 PPG).
First Coast (15-12) at Ocala Forest (20-5): Another Gateway Conference program that has been in its share of tight games - 18 games decided by eight points or less - First Coast is a good bet to keep things close against Forest. Forwards Brandon Ross (11.4 PPG) and Dustin Ellis (10.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG) power the Buccaneers.
Tallahassee Chiles (9-17) at White (22-5): The Commanders have the drive to win tight games late. White has played 13 games that have been decided by seven points or less (it is 9-4 in those). Guards Kenneth Mcniel (17.4 PPG) and Kendall Mcneil (10.4) do most of the scoring for the Commanders. For Chiles, guards Brad Hill (11.5 PPG) and Mike Dunn (10.6 PPG) lead the way.
Lake City Columbia (19-7) at Ridgeview (21-5): One of the area's top first-round matchups with a pair of solid defensive teams going at it. The Panthers spread their offense across the board, featuring forward Kurae Burns (12.7 PPG), center Jordan Banks (11.1), guard Hunter Wetherell (11.0) and guard Kyjon Jones (9.7). Of Ridgeview's five losses, only one has been by more than five points.
Tallahassee Leon (22-5) at Wolfson (22-5): Somewhat of a surprise first-round matchup made possible when Leon was upended by Ridgeview in the district final. Guards Kerry White (12.2 PPG) and Jasper Sasser (10.4 PPG) pace the Wolfpack, the Gateway Conference runner-up. Leon is led by forwards Cameron Smith and Van Johnson, both averaging 9.4 PPG.
Nease (16-8) at Parker (21-5): The Braves didn't back down when they lost their top player, guard Solomon Poole, to a season-long suspension after his second ejection. Instead, Parker filtered out Poole's points to others and wound up winning its district on a drive-and-score by Chris Journet with 17.6 seconds left. Jon Berens (45 percent 3-point percentage) and Denzell Hayden (16 PPG) lead Nease.
Bishop Kenny (23-3) at Ponte Vedra (15-11): The Crusaders have a bevy of scoring options to choose from, with Brian Dawkins (14.3 PPG), Brennan Sullivan (10.5) and Blake Harris (10.3) providing matchup problems for the Sharks. Ponte Vedra, making its first playoff appearance, is led by UNF signee Beau Beech (24.3 PPG) and point guard Jackson Johnson (11.1 PPG, 5.3 APG).
North Marion (15-10) at Bartram Trail (11-13): The Bears won their district despite a losing record, mainly because of the play of Tyler Irish (15.8) and Nick Grier (16.1).
Creekside (17-6) at Gainesville Eastside (23-4): The Knights' surprising loss to Bartram, a team it beat twice in the regular season by an average of 16 points, puts them and leading scorer Brian Johnson (14.7 PPG) on the road.
Fernandina Beach (18-9) at Raines (13-14): The Vikings have one of the area's top-scoring guards in Deangelo Stephens-Bell. But even when he's off, someone like Lamont Dunnam can shine. The Pirates counter with Jordan McIntosh (13.2 PPG) and Logan Vendola (10.2 PPG).
Bolles (14-10) at West Nassau (15-9): John Theus (6-6) gives the Bulldogs an inside presence that not a lot of teams around here have. Bolles just needs to get scoring from across its lineup. West Nassau's Malcolm Hills, Latroy Strong and Donald Roberts combined for 44 of the Warriors' 64 points in the district championship win over Fernandina Beach.
Trinity Christian (22-3) at Tallahassee North Florida Christian (21-5): NFC needed everything it could muster to escape Maclay in the district title game and avoid a first-round matchup with powerful Providence. The alternative, facing Trinity, and sophomore point guard Isaiah Ford (20.0 PPG), isn't much better.
Tallahassee Maclay (12-12) at Providence (25-2): The Stallions are poised for big things with how the playoff bracket sets up. UNF signee Cameron Naylor (16.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG) is one of the area's top all-around players, and he has a great supporting cast as well.
St. Joseph (17-10) at Daytona Beach Father Lopez (24-4): The Flashes closed their season with a solid 9-2 run to reach their first playoff game since 2006. With how well they've played some of the area's top teams, don't expect Lopez to walk away with this one. Guards O.J. Williams (15.7 PPG), who scored 62 points during a game this season, and Reese Davis (12.0) lead the Flashes. Guard/forward Matt Panaggio (18.4 PPG) leads Lopez.
First Coast Christian (9-16) at Tallahassee FAMU (13-14): The Challengers have a difficult playoff opener against the Rattlers, a team that has played up in classification most of the season.
Escambia Charter (8-13) at North Florida Educational Institute (13-8): Brandon Adams (17.5 PPG) has been held under double figures in scoring just three times this season for NFEI. Malik Carter (13.7 PPG) can also put up points at a quick pace. NFEI has played a solid schedule.