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Playoff Preview: Class 5a-7a

By HoopMIA, 02/10/20, 2:30PM EST

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South Florida District Playoffs Preview: 5a-7a

 

The FHSAA has turned to Maxpreps rankings to determine their playoff seeding and at large bids for the state playoffs. The new system only assures the district champion of a spot in the playoffs. The other four spots will go to the remaining four highest ranked teams. HoopMia will be breaking down the District Tournaments in South Florida which all take place next week. We will break down what teams will need to accomplish this week in order to clinch a spot in the regional playoffs.

 

District 16 (1. Belen 2. Northwestern 3. TERRA 4. Killian 5. Jackson)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/14 Site: @Killian

 

Belen has had a solid regular season and enters the district tournament assured a regional playoff spot and looking to capture a top 4 seed. Killian and TERRA competed with Belen the best this season and look to be the toughest road blocks for them to capture the title this week. Killian, TERRA, Northwestern, and Jackson will all need to capture the district championship in order to advance to the regional playoffs. 

 

District 15 (1.  Norland 2. Central 3. Hialeah Miami Lakes 4. Mourning 5. Westland Hialeah)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/14 Site: @Hialeah Miami Lakes

 

Norland enters the playoffs playing its best basketball of the season with an impressive showing in the GMAC tournament this past week. They are the heavy favorite to win the district and will be in the playoffs no matter what transpires this week. Central seems like the biggest threat to Norland and will need to win the district in order to advance. Hialeah Miami Lakes, Mourning, and Westland Hialeah are all extreme longshots and will need to capture the district title to advance to regionals. 

 

District 14 (1. Pines Charter 2. Northeast 3. Boyd Anderson 4. American Heritage 5. Coconut Creek 6. Archbishop McCarthy )

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/13 Finals 2/15 Site: @Boyd Anderson 

 

District 14 is by far the best district in this region. Pines Charter, Northest, and Boyd Anderson may be the best three teams in the region and will battle it out this week for a top 4 seed. Pines Charter split the regular season games with Northeast and beat Boyd Anderson twice in very competitive matchups. Northeast beat Boyd Anderson in a competitive game in their only meeting of the season. American Heritage, Coconut Creek, and McCarthy will have to knock off at least two of the aforementioned teams to shock the state and capture a spot in the regional playoffs. 


 

District 13 (1. Okeechobee 2. Suncoast 3. Fort Pierce Westwood 4. Jensen Beach 5. Port St. Lucie 6. Boynton Beach)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Okeechobee

 

Okeechobee is having a great season and will be favorite entering this tournament. Suncoast is on the cut line for the playoffs and may need to win the district in order to advance to the playoffs. Fort Pierce Westwood, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Boynton Beach will need to capture the district title to make the regional playoffs.

 

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District 16 (1. South Miami 2. Mater 3. Doral 4. Hialeah 5. Homestead 6. Southridge)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/15 Site: @Doral

 

District 16 seemed destined to be a three team race between South Miami, Mater, and Doral all season. Devin Carter is out for the season for Doral and the odds of them capturing the district title now seem too tough to accomplish. All three teams will be in the regional playoffs no matter what transpires this week. Mater and South Miami are in a race for the number 1 seed in the region and will be locking to capture the district title and top seed. Hialeah, Homestead, and Southridge will have to shock the world and win the district title in order to advance to regionals. 

 

District 15 (1. North Miami 2. McArthur 3. South Broward 4. Hollywood Hills 5. American 6. Goleman)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/13 Site: @McArthur

 

North Miami enters this week as the favorite to win the district title. McArthur has a very competitive group and are battling Blanche Ely for the 8th seed in the regional playoffs and may need to win the district title to clinch a playoff spot. South Broward, who beat 7a powerhouse Miramar earlier this season, will look to be a giant killer once again and secure a playoff spot with a district championship. Hollywood Hills, American, and Goleman need to win the title to get in and that will be close to an impossible task. 

 

District 14 (1. Dillard 2. Fort Lauderdale 3. Blanche Ely 4. St. Thomas Aquinas 5. Nova 6. Plantation 7. South Plantation)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/15 Site: @Blanche Ely

 

We will talk about the top two teams in a second, but the biggest story in the state this week will be if perennial powerhouse Blanche Ely will be able to advance to the regional playoffs. They are battling McArthur for the 8th seed and need a district title to assure a playoff spot. Dillard is one of the top teams in the state and is the heavy favorite to capture the district championship. Fort Lauderdale has had a great season and has secured a playoff spot no matter what occurs this week. The remaining four teams face a grueling task of having to win this brutal district in order to advance to the playoffs. 

 

District 13 (1. Martin County 2. Atlantic 3. West Boca Raton 4. South Fork 5. Seminole Ridge 6. Olympic Heights)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Olympic Heights

 

Martin County has had a great season and will be a tough team to beat in the regional playoffs. They are the favorite to win the district title this week and will advance no matter the outcome. Atlantic, West Boca, South Fork, Seminole Ridge, and Olympic Heights will have to catch fire to knock off Martin County and win the district in order to advance to the regional playoffs.

 

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District 16 (1. Palmetto 2. Braddock 3. Ferguson 4. Coral Reef 5. South Dade 6. Varela)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Palmetto

 

Palmetto is the only team that can advance to the playoffs in this district if they are unable to win the district title. Braddock, Ferguson, and Coral Reef were competitive with Palmetto at least in one of their meetings and are all hoping to make a run to capture a district title. Palmetto could be in trouble of missing the playoffs if there are upsets in other districts and they fail to win the district. Coral Reef, Braddock, and Ferguson were all extremely competitive in the regular season amongst each other and it will be intriguing to see if one of them can wrestle the district away from Palmetto. South Dade and Varela would have to greatly exceed expectations to contend for a championship this weekend. 

 

District 15 (1. Coral Gables 2. Coral Park 3. Columbus 4. Miami High 5. Miami Beach 6. Southwest)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/13 Site: @Coral Park

 

This district is one of the most competitive in the whole state. It features Coral Gables, Columbus, and Coral Park who are all likely locks for a spot in regionals. Coral Gables enters as the top seed and district favorite but they were swept in their season series with Coral Park. Columbus is playing their best basketball of the season entering the playoffs and have the talent to make a deep run. Coral Park swept the season series vs Coral Gables and Columbus, but were beaten twice by Miami High. Miami High has the talent to make a run for the championship and will need to capture the district title in order to advance in the playoffs. Miami Beach is a very talented and young team capable of getting hot at the right time. Southwest is the only team that it is hard to envision being able to make a run to win the district title. 

 

District 14 (1. Miramar 2. Dr. Krop 3. West Broward 4. Hialeah Gardens 5. Everglades 6. Reagan)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: Dr. Krop

 

District 14 seems to be headed towards a final between Miramar and Krop. Both teams will be in the regional playoffs no matter the outcome of next week, but capturing the district title assures a better seed and makes it more likely to make a run to Lakeland. The other teams seen like longshots to be able to knock off either of the favorites but at this time of year crazy things occur and it will be interesting to see if any of them can shake up the playoffs outlook.

 

District 13 (1. Western 2. Cypress Bay 3. Gulf Coast 4. Cooper City 5. Piper 6. Flanagan)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/13 Site: @Cypress Bay

 

Western enters the district tournament as the favorite in District 13 and due to their ranking is assured a spot in regionals. Cypress Bay is currently the 8th seed in regional playoffs and depending on how other district tournaments turn out they may need to win the District in order to advance. The other four teams must win the district to advance and Gulf Coast which holds a 15 and 8 record is the most likely of that bunch to make a run. 

 

District 12 (1. Deerfield Beach 2. Taravella 3. Coral Glades 4. Monarch 5. Coral Springs 6. Stoneman Douglas)

 

Deerfield Beach is the top team in district and will be the favorite entering this week to win the title. Taravella has been one of the biggest surprise teams of the year and are probably in the playoffs no matter what transpires this week. Coral Glades is right on the cut line and will need a good week to advance to the playoffs. Monarch, Coral Springs, and Douglas all enter this week in win or go home mode. 

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/11 Finals 2/12 Site: @Monarch

 

District 11 (1. Park Vista 2. Santaluces 3. Lake Worth 4. Boca Raton 5. Leonard 6. Spanish River)

 

Park Vista has had a great year and is the favorite to capture District 11. Santaluces is assured a spot in regionals and will be looking to knock off Park Vista to win a district title and capture a top 4 seed. Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Leonard, and Spanish River all need to win the tournament in order to advance to the regional playoffs. 

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Boca Raton

 

District 10 (1. Forest Hill 2. Wellington 3. Palm Beach Central 4. Palm Beach Lakes 5. Jupiter 6. Royal Palm Beach)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/11 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Palm Beach Central

 

This is one of the top districts in the entire state and is filled with quality teams. Forest Hill is probably the favorite to win the state title in 7a and will be a tough team to beat. Wellington is locked into the regional playoffs regardless of what occurs in the district playoffs. Palm Beach Central and Palm Beach Lakes may need to win the district title in order to get into the playoffs. It speaks to the depth and talent in this district that a talented team like Jupiter enters this week in must win mode in order to advance to the regional playoffs.

 

District 9 (1. Dwyer 2. Vero Beach 3. Treasure Coast 4. Ft. Pierce Central 5. Centennial 6. Palm Beach Gardens)

 

Schedule: First Round 2/10 Semifinals 2/12 Finals 2/14 Site: @Ft. Pierce Central

 

Dwyer enters the district title as the clear favorite and is ranked as one of the best teams in the state. Vero Beach is on the bubble to get into regionals and may need a district championship in order to clinch a berth in regionals. Treasure Coast, Ft.Pierce Central, Centennial, and Palm Beach Gardens all will need to secure a district championship in order to advance to the playoffs.