Gainesville-Area High School Basketball Teams Vie for Titles
Gainesville-area basketball teams teams have made deep runs in the state playoffs.
The Buchholz, Eastside and Newberry boys advanced to region finals Saturday, while the Newberry girls (21-4) will play at Jacksonville Bolles (24-4) in Friday’s Class 3A-Region 1 final. The teams play for a berth in the state final four at UNF Arena on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville next month.
Meanwhile, the Williston basketball program is represented in both girls and boys state title games Friday. The top-seeded Williston girls (21-2) play two seed Jay (25-4) at 6 p.m. Friday at UNF Arena for the Rural Class state trophy. It would be the first for the Red Devils, who are coached by veteran Willie Powers II, seeking his third title all-time.
The two seed Williston boys (21-7), who won back-to-back state titles in 2023, their first in program history, and 2024, play top seed Crossroad Academy (20-3) at 8 p.m. Friday at UNF Arena.
The five seed Buchholz boys (21-7) play at the two seed Winter Park Lake Howell Silverhawks (24-5) for the 6A region title at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Four seed Eastside (17-8) plays at two seed Port Orange Atlantic (21-9) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the 4A region title game.
Two seed Newberry (21-3) play in the 3A Region 1 final at 7 p.m. Saturday at top seed Jacksonville Andrew Jackson (27-1).
Newberry is continuing its historic season. The Panthers beat Episcopal School of Jacksonville in the 3A Region 1 semifinal game, 77-49, last Saturday.
This is the first time the program has advanced to the regional finals since coach Patrick Green joined in 2019. Winning back-to-back district titles is another first for the team.
“They [Andrew Jackson] are one of the top teams, not only in the state, but in the country,” Green said. “We will be focused.”
The winner of this matchup will advance to the final four state semifinals for class 3A in Jacksonville on March 9.
Category: Basketball, Buchholz High School, Eastside High School, High School Sports, Newberry High School, Williston High School
