JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4Jax Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Thursday during the regular season with the exception of a two-week break for the holidays. Records are through Jan. 6 games.
Rank, Previous, School, Record, Classification, Record
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1. (NR) Providence (12-2, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Carrollwood Day, Christ Church Episcopal (SC), Episcopal, Ocala Forest, Orlando Evans, Santa Fe, Seacoast Christian, Seffner Christian, Viera.
Why they’re here: The Stallions jump from bubble team and to the top of Super 6 after a strong December showing where they went 8-1. They’ve continued that roll into the new year, with wins over Santa Fe (33-30), Carrollwood Day (72-60) and Baker County (69-35). Providence has won five straight entering a Friday game at Impact Christian. They’ve got two big ones next week, a home game against Ponte Vedra on Jan. 12 and a clash at Bishop Snyder on Jan. 15. The Stallions face Oakleaf at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the MLK Classic at Jackson.
2. (3) Bishop Snyder (9-2, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Episcopal, Greater Atlanta Christian, Impact Christian, Mandarin, North Florida Educational, Potter’s House Christian, Sagemont.
Why they’re here: The Cardinals have won four in a row and have played a tough first half of the season schedule. And it’s much more challenging from here on out for coach Russell Powell and Snyder. They opened up 2021 with a 52-42 victory over Bartram Trail, with three players reaching double figures in scoring in that one — Justin Hicks with 14 points, Moise Balungu with 13 and Austin Lewis with 12. The Cardinals face Riviera Prep in the MLK Classic on Friday at Jackson at 8:30 p.m.
3. (1) Jackson (7-3, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Lee, North Florida Educational, Paxon, Santa Fe Catholic, Westside.
Why they’re here: The Tigers hit a rough path during holiday season, dropping a triple OT game against Orlando Edgewater (65-61), a double OT game against Orlando Dr. Phillips (56-53) and a 49-42 showdown against Orlando Olympia. Of course, those losses aren’t bad at all for coach James Collins’ team. Those defeats are all to top 40 teams in the state. Dr. Phillips is ranked 50th nationally. Jackson has a big game Friday in the MLK Classic at home against Potter’s House (7 p.m.) to get back on track. That is one of 10 games in the MLK Classic at Jackson over Friday and Saturday. Action begins at 4 p.m. Friday with the first of four games, and at noon on Saturday with the opener of six more.
4. (5) Ponte Vedra (13-1, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bolles, Creekside, Flagler Palm Coast, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Nease, St. Joseph.
Why they’re here: The Sharks continued their surge, going 10-1 in December and then notching their most impressive win of the season with a 61-52 victory over Bolles on Tuesday. Ponte Vedra’s lone loss came to rival Nease in a 43-41 game on Dec. 29. January is a tough month for the Sharks, including a Jan. 12 game at Providence. F Luke Pirris (15.2 ppg) and G Alex Madson (10 ppg) are leading Ponte Vedra in scoring.
5. (NR) Paxon (8-3, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Durant, Impact Christian, Nease, Villages Charter, Westside.
Why they’re here: The Golden Eagles make their return to the Super 6 after a two-poll absence. Paxon has won five of six since a 18-point loss to then-No. 1 Jackson on Dec. 5. Their most impressive win over the holiday break was a 68-63 win over 11-4 Durant on Dec. 21. A 72-69 loss to Lake Highland Prep is the only defeat in that stretch for coach Toby Frazier’s squad. The Golden Eagles face Spruce Creek in the MLK Classic opener at Jackson on Friday at 4 p.m.
6. (4) Bolles (7-2, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Atlantic Coast, Fletcher, Mandarin, Orange Park, St. Joseph, West Nassau.
Why they’re here: After along holiday break, the Bulldogs have split to start 2021, topping Atlantic Coast (69-46) and losing to No. 5 Ponte Vedra (61-52). They’ve got three big ones over the next week, including Episcopal (10-3) at home on Friday, visiting Orange Park (7-3) on Monday and then hosting Bishop Kenny (5-3) on Jan. 15. G Bobby Crouch (20.8 ppg), G Ben McGraw (15.8 ppg) and G Richie Rosenblum (13.9 ppg) lead the Bulldogs in scoring. The Bulldogs get the nod this week at No. 6 over previously ranked No. 2 Lee, which has dropped four straight games.
Dropped out: Episcopal (10-3, Class 3A); Lee (6-4, Class 5A).
Others: Bishop Kenny (5-3, Class 4A); Creekside (7-3, Class 6A); Episcopal (10-3, Class 3A); First Coast (5-1, Class 6A); Impact Christian (4-5, Class 2A); North Florida Educational Institute (5-6, Class 2A); Lee (6-4, Class 5A); Mandarin (4-4, Class 7A); Nease (9-3, Class 7A); Orange Park (7-3, Class 5A); Palatka (9-2, Class 4A); Parker (4-0, Class 5A); Seacoast Christian (7-6, Class 2A); Westside (5-5, Class 5A).