JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Only four boys basketball teams remain standing.
Ponte Vedra, Jackson and North Florida Educational Institute won their third-round games on Friday night and join Bradford in next week’s state semifinals in Lakeland.
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The Sharks got 24 points from Luke Pirris and 12 from JT Kelly to beat Fleming Island in the Region 1-6A finals. Ponte Vedra (26-3) will face Winter Haven (24-7) on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the RP Funding Center. The Sharks have never been to a state semifinal before.
Jackson continued its march, winning its 22nd consecutive game with a 63-49 win over Bay in Region 1-4A. The Tigers advanced to Lakeland for the fourth consecutive season under coach James Collins. The Tigers (28-2) will face Gibbs (21-8) on Thursday at 10 a.m. Jackson has a five state titles, tied with now-defunct Arlington Country Day for most in area history. Its last crown came in 1993 when Collins led them to it as a player.
And North Florida Educational ended St. Joseph’s best season with a 51-28 win in Region 1-2A. NFEI (24-7) will face Sagemont (24-6) on Wednesday at noon.
Bradford, which won its region last week, had already punched its ticket to Lakeland. The Tornadoes will face Hawthorne on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Riverside’s season came to an end in the third round for the second consecutive season in a 62-59 loss to Pensacola Pine Forest in Region 1-5A. The Generals finished 24-5.
And Providence’s string of one-point wins ended with a 45-41 loss to Florida High in Region 1-3A. The Stallions (25-5) were undone by a 15-4 Seminoles run in the third quarter.
Regional finals
Friday’s results
Region 1-6A
(1) Ponte Vedra 60, (3) Fleming Island 49
Region 1-5A
(3) Pensacola Pine Forest 62, (1) Riverside 59
Region 1-4A
(1) Jackson 63, (3) Bay 49
Region 1-3A
(2) Florida High 45, (1) Providence 41
Region 1-2A
(1) North Florida Educational 51, (3) St. Joseph 28
State semifinals
at RP Funding Center, Lakeland
Wednesday’s games
Class 2A
North Florida Educational (24-7) vs. Sagemont (24-6), noon
Class 1A
Bradford (14-10) vs. Hawthorne (11-4), 6 p.m.
Thursday’s games
Class 6A
Ponte Vedra (26-3) vs. Winter Haven (23-7), 8 p.m.
Class 4A
Jackson (28-2) vs. Gibbs (21-8), 10 a.m.