Oak Ridge, Apopka top Super 16
Sentinel Super 16 boys basketball teams now have postseason pressure added to their degree of difficulty.
The Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs tipped off Monday with the opening round of district tournament play.
The Super 16 rankings are listed below with records going into the postseason and previous ranking in parentheses if different. This poll includes only teams eligible for FHSAA state playoffs (*denotes those with a Monday tournament game):
1. Oak Ridge (15-5): 9A defending state champs have been counting down the days to playoffs. It’s time. Wednesday night at home.
2. (3) Apopka (22-3): Blue Darters are rated No. 1 in 9A, ahead of Oak Ridge, by MaxPreps. Only loss in past 15 games was 95-89 at Windermere with three starters out.
3. (2) Windermere High (21-4*): Backto-back losses to Edgewater and Dr. Phillips slowed Wolverines’ roll. But they’re still ranked No. 1 statewide in 8A.
4. (6) Edgewater (19-6*): Eagles are 8-1 since 62-59 loss at OCP, including win over Windermere. And Michael Eads Jr. is back.
5. Orlando Christian Prep (19-5): Losses were to five teams that racked up 105 regular-season wins, and victories included beating Edgewater and Atlantic (19-6).
6. (7) Kissimmee Osceola (19-6): Kowboys have won eight consecutive games and 15 of their past 16. Veteran team knows what time it is.
7. (8) Seminole (19-4): Is this the sleeper team in 9A? Seminoles have won 13 in a row and lost two in OT, another on a buzzer-beater.
8. (11) Oviedo (19-6*): Lions have won eight straight, including OT victory vs. Bishop Moore. Seeking eighth consecutive region berth, and sixth district title since 2012.
9. (4) Bishop Moore (20-4): Hornets, who started 14-0, lost two district games (Eustis and Poinciana) down the stretch but are still rated No. 1 in 6A by MaxPreps.
10. (NR) The First Academy (14-11): Royals beat Jones and Deltona and lost only to Apopka and Windermere in final nine regular-season games.
11. (12) Jones (15-10): Saturday’s 49-48 defeat vs. Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic marked seventh time hard-luck Tigers have lost by 3 points or less or in overtime.
12. (10) Evans (18-7): Trojans, the second seed behind Apopka in 9A, District 3, lost late-season rivalry games to Edgewater and Jones.
13. Timber Creek (20-5): Wolves aim for first district title in 13 years. Only defeat in final 15 regular-season games was in overtime at Titusville.
14. (15) Leesburg (14-7): Reigning state champs host 6A, District 13 semifinals Tuesday, and both games look like tossups. 15. (16). Eustis (18-7): Scrappy Panthers won 10 of their past 11 games and will be a tough out for Leesburg on Tuesday. 16. (NR) Poinciana (15-8*): Seven wins in past eight games included road wins at Bishop Moore and Leesburg. Watch list: CFCA (15-10); Colonial (19-6); Deltona (18-6); The Master’s Academy (18-7*).