JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Feb. 2.
Super 6 boys basketball rankings
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Rank, (Previous), School, Record, Classification
1. (1) Jackson (22-2, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Auburndale, Bartow, Bishop Snyder, Eleanor McMain, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Florida High, Lake Highland Prep, Mainland, Orange Park, Paxon, PK Yonge, Potter’s House, Ribault (three times), Victory Rock Prep.
Glance: They just keep on winning. The Tigers stretched their unbeaten streak to 16 games entering a Thursday night showdown against No. 2 Fleming Island. Jackson coasted to the Gateway Conference championship last week, routing finalist Paxon, 53-28 for the crown. We love offense and big scorers, but Jackson’s defense is relentless. The Golden Eagles are the fourth team Jackson has held to under 29 points in a game this season (Potter’s House, Raines, Wolfson). Coach James Collins has gotten this program to the point where it would be a shock if the Tigers aren’t back in Lakeland on an annual basis.
2. (2) Fleming Island (12-10, Class 6A)
Notable wins: Auburndale, Episcopal, Fletcher, Impact Christian, Nease, Oakleaf, Orange Park, Raines, Riverside (twice), St. Augustine, Seminole.
Glance: The sudden drop in record is what I’d cautioned readers on for a month. The Golden Eagles were forced to forfeit nine victories and fined $4,000 for the use of two ineligible players, one on varsity, one on junior varsity. That being said, Fleming has suffered just one actual loss on the court, that coming to No. 1 Jackson. There’s a chance to atone for that loss on Thursday night in a 1-2 showdown on Main Street. Only one game since our final Super 6 and it was a blockbuster, a 53-52 win over rival Orange Park. Fleming rounds out the week with two more tough opponents, Friday against Providence and Saturday against Miami Norland. Colton Zapp (12.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Ahman Greenidge (12.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Antoine Sandy (11.2 ppg) lead Fleming.
3. (4) Ponte Vedra (19-3, Class 6A)
Notable wins: Bolles, Creekside, Doral Academy, Evans, Fletcher, Gulf Coast, Impact Christian, Nease, Providence, St. Augustine, St. Joseph, Somerset Prep.
Glance: The Sharks had just one game since our last Super 6 and it was a big one, a 74-45 win over a very strong St. Joseph squad. They wrap up the week with two more big St. Johns County games, none bigger than their rivalry game at Nease on Thursday. Ponte Vedra beat the Panthers 52-48 in the first meeting of the season. The Sharks host Bartram Trail on Friday night to wrap up the regular season. Ross Candelino (13.8 ppg), JT Kelly (10.7 ppg), Luke Pirris (10.4 ppg) and Nathan Bunkosky (10.9 ppg) have averaged double figures in scoring for the Sharks nearly wire to wire.
4. (T5) Providence (19-4, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Bartow, Bishop Snyder, Bolles, Calvary Christian, Episcopal, Impact Christian, Nease, North Florida Educational, Orange Park, Palatka, St. Joseph, Santa Fe Catholic, Sickles, University Christian
Glance: Three straight victories for the Stallions, who beat Impact Christian (42-36), First Coast (60-48) and NFEI (54-42) since our last Super 6. Providence rounds out the week with a visit to No. 2 Fleming Island and then faces Tallahassee Chiles to round out the regular season. Only one loss locally this season, a 53-48 defeat to Ponte Vedra. The big challenge awaits in next week’s District 2-3A tournament. Providence will likely face Episcopal in the second round. Bishop Snyder likely awaits in the final.
5. (6) Orange Park (20-4, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Creekside, Nease, Oakleaf, Villages Charter, West Nassau.
Glance: A 2-1 mark since our last Super 6 for the Raiders, who lost a heartbreaker to No. 2 Fleming Island (53-52). They bounced back with a high-quality win over Nease (69-52) and Trinity Christian (79-59). OP finishes up the regular season with a matchup against Bolles. The Raiders open the District 3-5A tournament as the top seed and gets Middleburg or Westside in the district opener. It would face Clay or Ridgeview in the district final.
T6. (T5) Paxon (21-3, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Auburndale, Bradford, Clay, Hope Christian, Pensacola, Raines, St. Augustine, Santa Fe, Tattnall County, University Christian, Yulee.
Glance: The Golden Eagles went 2-1 since our last Super 6, beating Riverside (55-43) in the Gateway tournament and then Parker (51-17) this week. Paxon lost in the conference final to No. 1 Jackson (53-28). Paxon wraps up its regular season Friday against Baker County. The Golden Eagles are the top seed in the District 2-4A tournament. They’ll likely face West Nassau in the final on Feb. 11.
T6. (3) Riverside (20-4, Class 5A)
Notable wins: Bishop Snyder, Fletcher, Impact Christian, Jackson, Melbourne, Ponte Vedra, Raines, Sandalwood, West Nassau, Windermere Prep.
Glance: The Generals enter the district tournament riding a two-game losing streak. They were beaten by Paxon (55-43) in the Gateway semifinals and then lost a stunner to Sandalwood (54-53) on a last-second shot. Their record didn’t reflect the changes since Riverside picked up two forfeits from Fleming Island. They hang on in the Super 6. Look for a Riverside against Raines/Ribault in the District 2-5A final on Feb. 11.
On the bubble
Baldwin (12-9, Class 4A); Bartram Trail (9-11, Class 7A); Bishop Kenny (13-11, Class 4A); Bishop Snyder (11-11, Class 3A); Clay (9-8, Class 5A); Creekside (15-5, Class 7A); Episcopal (12-11, Class 3A); Fletcher (15-8, Class 6A); Hope Christian (17-9, independent); Impact Christian (11-12, Class 2A); Nease (18-5, Class 6A); North Florida Educational (18-7, Class 2A); Oakleaf (13-11, Class 7A); Palatka (12-8, Class 4A); Raines (12-11, Class 5A); Ribault (15-7, Class 5A); St. Augustine (13-11, Class 6A); St. Joseph (15-7, Class 2A); San Jose Prep (16-6, independent); Sandalwood (15-7, Class 7A); Seacoast Christian (16-6, Class 2A); University Christian (12-10, Class 2A); West Nassau (11-10, Class 4A); Yulee (17-7, Class 4A).