The highest-seeded girls basketball team in Alachua County entering the 2025 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state tournament is Gainesville High School.
The Lady Hurricanes’ record isn’t flashy at 13-8, but they’ve played a challenging schedule that not only helped them to get a No. 2 seed in their region, but it also got them prepared for the road ahead.
They’re battle-tested against good competition.
GHS defeated 22-3 Luella (GA) and also played non-FHSAA member Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville), which is ranked 15th overall in Florida, and at No. 12 overall Bolles (Jacksonville).
They have wins against Class 7A playoff teams Creekside (St. Johns) and West Port (Ocala), plus 4A Eastside, 3A schools Newberry (twice) and Andrew Jackson and Trenton (Rural).
The Lady Hurricanes flexed their muscles in the Class 5A-District 2 tournament with a 67-23 win against Leon (Tallahassee) in the district semifinals and a 64-41 win in the championship game against tonight’s opponent, Lincoln (Tallahassee), in the 5A-Region 1 Quarterfinals.
The visiting Trojans, who are the No. 7 seed, are 15-9 and led by junior guard Jamiya Brown, who averages 21.3 points per game.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast online at Mainstreet Daily News beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Mike Ridaught will handle the play-by-play call in the first half along with color commentator Hank Rone, and Aiden Wacksman will join Rone in the second half to call the action. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The winner will play either No. 3 seed Beachside (St. Johns) or No. 6 seed Orange Park in Tuesday’s regional semifinals.
Two-time defending state champion Hawthorne will get a rematch at Williston tonight in the Rural-Region 4 Semifinals.
The Red Devils, who are ranked No. 6 in The Prep Zone Power Poll, defeated the Hornets, 57-44, in the Rural-District 7 semifinals last Thursday.
Williston (18-3) is led by junior point guard Ashlyn Young, who averages 10.3 ppg. She had 20 points last week against the Hornets (12-4), who were led by seniors De’Mya Adams (13 points) and T’Myrah Carter (10).
The winner will likely have to travel to top-ranked Wildwood (21-0), which will host Marathon (10-7) in the other regional semifinal.
In the Rural-Region 3 semifinals, No. 2 seed Fort White (15-7) hosts No. 3 seed Trenton (16-10). The winner will play either No.1 seed Hilliard or No. 4 seed Madison County in Tuesday’s region final for the right to go to the final four.
In other action tonight involving smaller classifications, No. 8 seed Countryside Christian (11-7) travels to No. 1 seed North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (16-12) for a Class 1A-Region 1 Quarterfinal, and No. 8 seed Oak Hall (10-6) is at Providence (Jacksonville) (20-6) in a Class 2A-Region 1 Quarterfinal.
In Class 3A-Region 1, No. 3 seed Newberry will host No. 6 seed Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (16-10), while No. 7 seed Bradford (Starke) (13-8) travels to Rutherford (Panama City) (20-3).
Last week the Lady Panthers (16-6) defeated Bradford, 53-47, to win the 3A-District 3 title. It was their first district championship in eight years.
Eastside made the playoffs thanks to a 45-36 win at Dunnellon in the 4A-District 5 championship. The Lady Rams (12-10) are the No. 6 seed in 4A-Region 2 and will host No. 3 seed Mulberry (17-2). The winner will play the winner of No. 7 seed Dunnellon at No. 2 seed Bishop Moore (Orlando).
FHSAA Girls Basketball matchups – Thursday, Feb. 13
Regional Quarterfinals (teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)
All games at 7 p.m.
Class 5A-Region 1
7 Lincoln (Tallahassee) at 2 Gainesville
Class 4A-Region 2
3 Mulberry at 6 Eastside
Class 3A-Region 1
6 Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) at 3 Newberry
7 Bradford (Starke) at 2 Rutherford (Panama City)
Class 2A-Region 1
8 Oak Hall at 1 Providence (Jacksonville)
Class 1A-Region 1
8 Countryside Christian at 1 North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville)
Regional Semifinals
Rural Class-Region 3
3 Trenton at 2 Fort White
Rural Class-Region 4
3 Hawthorne at 2 Williston
Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Regional Semifinals & Finals (Rural)
TBD