JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Dec. 6. The girls Super 6 rankings are published Tuesday.
Super 6 boys basketball rankings
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Rank, Previous, School, Record, Classification
1. (1) Providence (4-0, Class 3A)
Notable wins: Episcopal, IMG Academy Blue, Riverside, Sandalwood.
Glance: No problem for the Stallions, who handled previous No. 3 Riverside (64-44) in their lone game of the week. They’ve been untouchable this season. They’ve got Mandarin up on Thursday, their opening game of the Fortegra High School 9:12 Basketball Invitational, a tournament that they’ve won twice in the past. They’re back in the field after a two-year absence and should romp through this years, too.
2. (2) North Florida Educational (4-1, Class 2A)
Notable wins: Potter’s House, Riverside, Tampa Catholic.
Glance: Nice week for the Eagles, who beat previous No. 3 Riverside on a buzzer beater, 33-32, and knocked off Crossroad Academy, 73-36. The loss came to an always tough Gainesville The Rock team (102-80). DME Academy on the road Wednesday night is the next test for the Eagles. Isaac Taveras (22 ppg, 6 rpg) and Tommie Hill (12.4 ppg) are leading NFEI.
3. (4) Jackson (4-1, Class 4A)
Notable wins: Sandalwood, Windsor Forest.
Glance: James Collins keeps the Tigers humming along. Jackson has won three straight since a loss to Tampa Catholic, including wins last week over Sandalwood (83-55) and Windsor Forest, Ga. (70-54). Windsor Forest went 23-6 last year and was unbeaten before the Tigers handled them. There’s a big one Thursday night at previous No. 3 Riverside, which could be a preview of a Gateway Conference title matchup.
4. (5) Ponte Vedra (4-0, Class 6A)
Notable wins: Bolles, Paxon.
Glance: A 2-0 week for the Sharks since our last check in. Ponte Vedra handed Bolles its first loss rather convincingly (74-52) and then drummed Fletcher (64-44). Israel Nuhu (16.3 ppg), Ben Ritchie (15.8 ppg), Nathan Bunkosky (13.5 ppg) and Sam Ritchie (11.5) remain averaging double figures in scoring. Very tough closing stretch this week against unbeaten Poinciana and Tampa Catholic, a team that handed No. 3 Jackson its only loss.
5. (NR) Impact Christian (3-1, Class 2A)
Notable wins: Episcopal, Orange Park.
Glance: I mentioned the Lions as a team I considered for a spot in the initial rankings. I wound up including Orange Park over Impact and the Lions went out and beat OP 54-48. They added a 69-57 win over Episcopal on Tuesday night. Jordan Mikell (13 ppg), Isaac Edwards (10.7 ppg) and Na’Jai Moody (8.7 ppg) have led Impact this year. The Lions have always scheduled tough under coach Benjamin Jones. Their lone loss is a 54-45 game to Class 6A Miami Southridge. Tough week ahead, too. Impact has Bishop Snyder and Seacoast Christian to round out the week. Next week, it’s Fleming Island and Riverside on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
6. (NR) Nease (5-0, Class 6A)
Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, White.
Glance: The Panthers have been solid to start the season, notching an OT win over previously unbeaten Bartram since our last Super 6. They’ve also got solid wins over White and Kenny. Nease draws Camden County in the opener of the Fortegra tournament on Thursday and we could see a Nease-Providence showdown in the Saturday night final. The Panthers were declared the Fortegra champ last year after Fleming Island was forced to forfeit. Coach Josh Bailen’s Nease squad is coming off a 19-8 season. And even with a major graduation loss in All-News4JAX selection Logan Ryan, the Panthers, much like Ponte Vedra, are getting it done. I’ve got the Panthers in ahead of Fleming and Oakleaf this week due to a bit stronger competition. Riverside is in the mix, too, and remains one of the area’s top teams, even with back-to-back losses. Also keep an eye on another St. Johns County team, Class 2A St. Joseph.
Dropped out
Orange Park (3-1, Class 6A); Riverside (1-2, Class 5A);
Others
Bartram Trail (2-1, Class 7A); Bishop Kenny (4-1, Class 4A); Bolles (3-1, Class 4A); Episcopal (3-2, Class 3A); Fleming Island (5-0, Class 6A); Harvest Community (4-0, Class 2A); Oakleaf (4-0, Class 7A); Orange Park (3-1, Class 6A); Paxon (3-1, Class 4A); Raines (3-3, Class 4A); Ribault (3-1, Class 4A); Riverside (1-2, Class 5A); St. Joseph (4-0, Class 2A); San Jose Prep (2-1, independent); Sandalwood (3-2, Class 7A).