The 2024-25 boys basketball season came to an end with some surprises and some things that remained the same.
But in the end, it was a team that just missed a state title that ended up the No. 1 team in The Prep Zone Power Poll’s final rankings.
The Villages, which were blown out in 2023 in the 4A state championship game by Mater Lakes Academy, advanced back to Lakeland after escaping a hard-fought 83-79 win over Tampa Catholic in the Region 2-3A final. The Buffalo (26-6) then faced Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), which was the top-ranked team in the previous all-classification rankings.
The Villages won a classic showdown, knocking off the Tigers, 57-55, to advance to the 3A state championship game. Unfortunately, The Villages dropped the final, also by two points, to Calvary Christian (Clearwater). But that win over Andrew Jackson was enough to flip-flop the two teams and put The Villages on top of the final regional rankings for the 2024-25 season.
The Villages received seven of the nine first-place votes. They lost to Andrew Jackson in the 4A state semifinals last year.
Andrew Jackson, which received one first-place vote, ended up second. The Tigers (28-3) appeared in Lakeland for the sixth time in seven years, which includes four state runner-up finishes. Andrew Jackson is still looking for that elusive state title.
Class 5A state runner-up Ponte Vedra ended up at No. 3. The Sharks (22-9) knocked off 10th-ranked Gainesville in the region semifinals for the third straight year, then held off Leon (Tallahassee) in the Region 1-5A final to advance to the state semifinals for the third straight year. Ponte Vedra edged No. 11 (tied) Leesburg in triple overtime in the state semifinal before coming up short against Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) in the state title game.
Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine), who advanced to their first state semifinal appearance, finished at No. 4. The Toros (27-4) lost to eventual 6A state runner-up Evans (Orlando), 60-53, in Lakeland.
Rural classification state champion Hawthorne rounds out the top five. The Hornets (20-3) knocked off two-time defending state champion No. 14 Williston, 45-43, in the Region 4 final to advance back to Lakeland. Hawthorne had no trouble there, winning their state semifinal game against Graceville and championship game against Crossroad Academy (Quincy) by a combined 46 points.
Hawthorne receives the other first-place vote.
The next three teams advanced to the state semifinals. Ribault (Jacksonville) advanced to the 4A final four, where they were knocked off by state champion Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale).
Finishing at No. 7 is 1A state semifinalist Impact Christian (Jacksonville). The Lions (23-7) lost in the semifinal in Lakeland to Sagemont (Weston), who won its third consecutive state title. University Christian (Jacksonville) ends up No. 8 after advancing to the 2A state semifinal round.
Rounding out the top 10 are ninth-ranked Newberry and No. 10 Gainesville. Newberry finished 24-1 with the only loss coming in the Region 1-3A semifinal to Florida High (Tallahassee).
Other teams in the Mainstreet Daily News area in the second 10 are No. 14 Williston and No. 18 Fort White. The Indians (15-10) knocked off RV (receiving votes) Hilliard on the road to advance to Lakeland for the first time. Fort White came up short against Crossroad Academy, 46-37, in the state semifinal, just missing an All-Area championship game against Hawthorne.
Two more final four teams, Eustis and Leesburg, finish just outside the top ten, are tied for 11th with Fleming Island (Orange Park).
Leesburg and Fort White are new to the rankings for this final poll. Dropping out are Mandarin (Jacksonville) and Lecanto.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024-25 BOYS BASKETBALL POLL #5 (FINAL POLL)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2024-25 record, and total voting points)
Teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in bold
1. The Villages (3A) (7) (26-6) – 178
2. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (3A) (1) (28-3) – 166
3. Ponte Vedra (5A) (22-9) – 153
4. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (27-4) – 148
5. Hawthorne (Rural) (1) (20-3) – 140
6. Ribault (Jacksonville) (4A) (21-9) – 138
7. Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) (1A) (23-7) – 115
8. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (22-9) – 114
9. Newberry (3A) (24-1) – 91
10. Gainesville (5A) (21-8) – 80
11T. Eustis (4A) (21-9) – 77
11T. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (23-6) – 77
11T. Leesburg (5A) (17-8) – 77
14. Williston (Rural) (16-12) – 72
15. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (19-8) – 48
16. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (22-6) – 46
17. Providence (Jacksonville) (2A) (16-13) – 37
18. Fort White (Rural) (15-10) – 36
19. Atlantic (Port Orange) (4A) (22-8) – 24
20. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (18-8) – 23
Also receiving votes: Lecanto (5A) (26-4) – 13; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (18-7) – 11; New Smyrna Beach (5A) (20-8) – 7; North Marion (Citra) (4A) (18-9) – 7; Hilliard (Rural) (15-6) – 4; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (18-11) – 3; St. Augustine (5A) (18-8) – 3; Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (2A) (15-13) -1; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (21-6) – 1.