CLASS 6A
In a big surprise, we went 7-1 in our picks for last Tuesday night. Our one “mistake” was that Martin County went down to Dillard and put a severe beatdown on the Panthers. Not only did this keep their perfect record intact, it also gave them a home game in the region final against a very good Mater Academy squad. Mater survived another close game against Doral Academy to advance.
Best Matchup: No doubt it is undefeated #2 Martin County hosting #3 Mater Academy. One can only imagine how packed “the house that Wallen built” would be if there was no pandemic. Also, can’t help but think how much the late, great Shakey Rodriguez would enjoy going into an undefeated opponent’s gym and looking to lay an “L” on them. Wish this was a state final.
Best Chance for an Upset: If Charlotte can withstand the runs that East Lake will certainly go on, the Tarpons have a shot at coming out with a win. Tre Carroll will be a matchup problem for East Lake and Charlotte has enough athletic talent to keep up with East Lake at the other positions. Also, East Lake has a very short bench. If Charlotte can get into that bench, their chances increase exponentially. That is a lot of “ifs”.
Our Picks
Lincoln over Forest
Bartow over Kathleen
East Lake over Charlotte
Mater Academy over Martin County (heart over head)
CLASS 7A
A 5-2 record isn’t all that for Tuesday night’s games, but we’ll take it. Coral Springs defeated Monarch in a District 12 final rematch. Our other loss was Western going on the road and defeating reigning champ Miramar. That was definitely a surprise after having seen both teams play this season.
More COVID craziness in this classification. At first, Miami-Dade Public Schools had decided to advance Palmetto in light of contact tracing after the Coral Gables/Columbus district final, which Coral Gables won. In a VERY late review of the situation, the ruling was reversed. Instead, the quarter-final game between Coral Gables and Palmetto will be played on Friday night. The winner will play Columbus on Saturday in the regions semi-final. That winner will play at Western on Monday with a trip to the state semi-finals at stake. Western won on the road at Miramar so no mater which of the three teams (Coral Gables, Columbus, or Palmetto) win in that part of the bracket, it will have to go on the road.
Best Matchup: Something suggests the matchup up between Sanford Seminole and Orlando Dr. Phillips should be very good. The game is at Dr. Phillips, so that should provide them an edge. DP has survived a pair of close games against #4 Olympia the past two weeks and all of their games against high-level opponents have been close. Seminole may not be ranked, but they are certainly hitting their stride and would certainly like a chance at redemption after losing in last season’s state final.
Best Chance for an Upset: Western will be playing at home and that will give the #18 team in the class and advantage over whomever they would play. Assuming it is #13 Coral Gables that makes it that far, we could see Western pulling off the upset, especially after having beating #12 Miramar on the road the previous week.
Our Picks
Dr. Phillips over Sanford Seminole
Oakridge over Sarasota Riverview
Dwyer over Coral Springs
Western over Coral Gables/Palmetto/Columbus