Area girls and boys high school basketball teams have gotten the chance to play some quality opponents during the holiday break.
On Friday, Hawthorne played Fort White in a rematch of last year’s 56-51 win by Fort White in the first round of the Class 1A regional semifinals.
And just like last year’s contest, this one was close again.
Five players scored in double figures for Hawthorne as the Hornets edged the Indians, 63-61, at the Florida Get Down Holiday Showcase at Santa Fe College.
Dacarion Debose led the way with 19 points, followed by Kelvin Baker with 12 points, and Davion Pugh, Chaison Wilson and Leland Johnson with 10 points each.
The Hornets (3-0) defeated Class 4A Palm Bay (Melbourne), 65-41, on Saturday behind Debose (13 points), Baker (12) and Wilson (11).
The Indians (4-3) bounced back with a 46-44 win on Saturday against P.K. Yonge (4-7), which defeated St. Francis Catholic Academy, 66-28, on Friday.
Newberry remained unbeaten with a pair of wins. The Panthers (10-0) defeated previously unbeaten Lecanto (10-1), 70-50, followed by a 76-49 win against Business Engineering Science Tech (Atlanta, GA).
The Rock National team (14-2) also went 2-0 with wins against Eastside, 74-35, and Bishop Snyder of Jacksonville, 81-53.
Columbia (Lake City) won the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park in Alachua.
The Tigers (9-6) went 3-0, including a 41-36 win against Forest (Ocala) in Sunday night’s championship game.
Trenton lost its first two games at the Hitchcock’s Challenge, falling 62-53 to Columbia on Friday and 62-49 to Class 6A Oakleaf (Orange Park) on Saturday.
However, the Tigers defeated First Assembly Christian School of Ocala, 70-28, on Sunday to improve to 7-6.
In the 16-team Kingdom of the Sun tournament at Vanguard (Ocala), Williston won its first two games to advance to the semifinals.
The two-time defending state champion Red Devils (9-4) defeated 4A No. 10 Eustis, 53-50, in overtime on Friday to advance to the winners’ bracket, followed by a 60-40 win against North Marion (Citra) on Saturday night.
Williston, which is ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps in the Rural classification, lost to 6A No. 1 and No. 4 overall in Florida St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 79-42, in the semifinals on Sunday night.
That sets up a battle for third place today at 5 p.m. against 6A No. 2 Evans (Orlando), which lost 82-72 to Gibbs (St. Pete) in the other semifinal.
GHS traveled to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and played four games in two days. The Hurricanes (9-5) lost their first two games on Friday but won their next two on Saturday.
In girls hoops, Williston went 2-1 at the Florida Prospects Tournament in Orlando.
On Thursday, the Lady Red Devils defeated Class 6A Wekiva of Apopka, 54-24.
Junior Ashlyn Young led all scorers with 10 points, while eighth-grader Janiyah Span just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
Williston lost to Class 1A No. 7 North Florida Educational Institute of Jacksonville, 48-45, on Friday, but they bounced back for a 64-41 win against Class 7A Oak Ridge (Orlando) on Saturday.
The Lady Red Devils, who are now 10-2 under first-year coach Willie Powers, are back in action on Friday at the Dante Anderson Memorial Invitational at Eastside High School (matchup and time TBA).
Trenton (9-4) went 2-1 at the Hitchcock’s Challenge.
The Lady Tigers opened the tournament on Friday with a 61-23 win against Class 2A P.K. Yonge.
Three players scored in double figures, led by senior Koi Perry with 17 points. She added seven assists and five steals. Senior Nyima Gillyard had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also added five blocks.
Trenton lost to Class 3A No. 4 The Villages, 68-36, on Saturday but the Lady Tigers bounced back with a 65-46 win against Class 4A North Marion on Sunday morning.
This Thursday through Saturday, Bronson High School is hosting the Bronson Eagle Holiday Tournament. Area teams Bronson and Chiefland will be competing in the 8-team double elimination boys basketball tournament along with Destin, Hilliard, Interlachen, Ocala Christian, Palatka and Taylor County (Perry).
Plus, the Eastside Shootout is this Friday and Saturday at Eastside High School in the newly named Herman “Pop” Williams Gymnasium.
Basketball Scores
GIRLS
Thursday, Dec. 26
Williston 54, Wekiva (Apopka) 24*
*Florida Prospects Tournament (Orlando)
Friday, Dec. 27
Newberry 53, Eustis 45^
Newberry 52, Mount Dora Christian Academy 50^
North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) 48, Williston 45*
The Villages 56, Santa Fe (Alachua) 18&
Trenton 61, P.K. Yonge 23&
Zephyrhills 40, Eastside 37#
^Cletus Stutzman Holiday Tournament at Mount Dora Christian
&Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
*Florida Prospects Tournament (Orlando)
#Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational at Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel)
Saturday, Dec. 28
Eastside 59, Alonso (Tampa) 11#
North Marion (Citra) 60, Santa Fe (Alachua) 25&
The Villages 68, Trenton 36&
Wildwood 86, P.K. Yonge 15&
Williston 64, Oak Ridge (Orlando) 41*
&Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
*Florida Prospects Tournament (Orlando)
#Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational at Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel)
Sunday, Dec. 29
Trenton 65, North Marion (Citra) 46&
P.K. Yonge 51, Santa Fe (Alachua) 14&
&Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
Monday, Dec. 30
Eastside vs. Indian Rocks Christian (Largo), 6:25 p.m.#
#Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational at Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel)
BOYS
Friday, Dec. 27
Columbia (Columbia) 62, Trenton 53@
Forest (Ocala) 61, Suwannee (Live Oak) 38@
Guerin Catholic (Noblesville, IN) 60, Gainesville 45^
Hawthorne 63, Fort White 59#
Jennings County (North Vernon, IN) 72, Gainesville 59^
Jupiter 57, Buchholz 30*
Newberry 70, Lecanto 50#
Oak Hall 67, Washburn (TN) 33$
P.K. Yonge 66, St. Francis Catholic Academy 28#
Santa Fe (Alachua) 78, First Assembly Christian Academy (Ocala) 34@
The Rock National team 74, Eastside 35#
Williston 53, Eustis 50&
^Furney Tournament at Lawrenceburg, Indiana
@Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
*Palm Beach Classic
#Florida Get Down Showcase at Santa Fe College
$Pensacola Beach Holiday Tournament
&Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala)
Saturday, Dec. 28
Buchholz 58, Deerfield Beach 42*
Columbia (Columbia) 70, Jordan Christian Prep (Auburndale) 63@
Forest (Ocala) 63, Santa Fe (Alachua) 57@
Fort White 46, P.K. Yonge 44#
Gainesville 64, Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 61^
Gainesville 60, Lawrenceburg (IN) 46^
Hawthorne 65, Palm Bay (Melbourne) 41#
Lecanto 68, Eastside 42#
Newberry 76, BEST Academy (Atlanta, GA) 49#
Oakleaf (Orange Park) 62, Trenton 49@
Orange Beach (AL) 46, Oak Hall 33$
Suwannee (Live Oak) 55, First Assembly Christian School (Ocala) 30@
The Rock National team 81, Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) 53#
Williston 60, North Marion (Citra) 40&
^Furney Tournament at Lawrenceburg, Indiana
@Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
*Palm Beach Classic
#Florida Get Down Showcase at Santa Fe College
$Pensacola Beach Holiday Tournament
&Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala)
Sunday, Dec. 29
Columbia (Lake City) 41, Forest (Ocala) 36@
Jordan Christian Prep (Auburndale) 73, Santa Fe (Alachua) 58@
Oakleaf (Orange Park) 64, Suwannee (Live Oak) 61@
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 79, Williston 42&
Trenton 70, First Assembly Christian School (Ocala) 28@
@Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park (Alachua)
&Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala)
Monday, Dec. 30
Palm Beach Central (Wellington) 47, Buchholz 42*
Oak Forest Academy (Amite, LA) 57, Oak Hall 43$
Evans (Orlando) 67, Williston 53& (3rd-place game)
*Palm Beach Classic
$Pensacola Beach Holiday Tournament
&Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala)