By: Ross Van De Griek
The high school girls basketball season tips off this week, as we are set to reveal the first official regular season rankings. Thank you to Pasco County Girls Basketball for helping me set these rankings, as they will be helping contribute each & every week throughout the season. Find out where your team is ranked below.
1. Tampa Bay Tech (0-0)
This Week: @ Strawberry Crest (Tues.)
The Tampa Bay Tech Titans girls basketball team will begin their quest for a second straight state title tonight, as they take on Strawberry Crest. Tampa Bay Tech is ranked sixth in the nation, according to MaxPreps' & finished second in Class 8A last season.
Players to watch: 2022 F Janiah Barker, 2022 F Amiya Evans, 2021 K'Nisha Godfrey
2. Plant (0-0)
This Week: vs Jefferson (Fri.)
The Plant Panthers will look to take care of some unfinished business, after falling short of a trip to the state semifinals last year, losing in heartbreaking fashion to St. Cloud High School. The Lady Panthers will be returning senior guard Honor Culpepper, junior forward Kendal Cheesman & have added senior guard Kayla Sieper to their program this offseason.
Players to watch: 2020 G Honor Culpepper, 2020 G Kayla Sieper, 2021 F Kendal Cheesman
3. Carrollwood Day (0-0)
This Week: vs Chamberlain (Wed.), @ Clearwater (Thu.)
The Carrollwood Day Patriots have ran into Miami Country Day in each of the previous two seasons in either the state semi or the state championship. Both Carrollwood Day & Miami Country Day are now in Class 3A, and have a very good chance at meeting again in Lakeland. But we have a long way to go, before we can decide on that. Carrollwood Day will tipoff their season tomorrow night, as they host Chamberlain.
Players to watch: 2020 F Nabaweeyah McGill, 2020 F Tarriyonna Gary
4. Seffner Christian (0-0)
This Week: vs Wharton (Sat.)
The Seffner Christian Crusaders have another heavy schedule, which Joe Cooper calls "A very good thing, it gets my girls prepared for the playoffs." Seffner Christian will face two Top 10 ranked teams in their first three games this season (Lakewood & Brooks-DeBartolo). The Lady Crusaders will look to rely on senior guard Kali Barber to lead the offense this season.
Players to watch: 2020 G Kali Barber, 2022 F Anna Weston
5. Strawberry Crest (0-0)
This Week: vs Tampa Bay Tech (Tues.), vs King (Wed.), @ Spoto (Fri.),
The Strawberry Crest Lady Chargers will turn to senior point guard Megan Watson to lead the offense this season, as they are coming off a 22-7 season a year ago. Strawberry Crest will open up the regular season tonight against #1 Tampa Bay Tech.
Players to watch: 2020 G Megan Watson, 2021 F Mya Lamar, 2020 C Brianna Jones
6. Brooks-DeBartolo (0-0)
This Week: vs Bishop Verot (Wed.)
The Lady Phoenix have an early challenge to the start of the season, as they will open up tomorrow night hosting Bishop Verot, who is led by 2022 guard Addison Potts (Missouri verbal commit) & 2020 guard Catie Reszel. The Lady Phoenix are coming off a 22-8 season last year, which was Maggie Hedley's last year serving as the head coach.
Players to watch: 2021 G Triniti Youngblood, 2020 F Julian Trice & 2021 G Amarie Godwin
7. Armwood (0-0)
This Week: @ Newsome (Fri.)
The Armwood Hawks are coming off a 25-2 season last year, which was their best season since 2014 (Finished 26-5). The Lady Hawks are led by second year head coach Ben Bromley & led the Hawks to the regional finals last season.
Players to watch: 2020 F Anaijah Harris, 2020 F Aniyah Jenkins & 2021 G Liyah Anderson. The Hawks will open up the season on Friday night at Newsome High School.
8. Lakewood (1-0)
This Week: Defeated Osceola, 96-4 (Mon.), @ Pinellas Park (Thu.)
The Lakewood Lady Spartans got off to a good start in their season opener last night, defeating Osceola 96-4. Lakewood will be back in action on Thursday night, as they travel to Pinellas Park, who tipoff their season tonight against Dunedin.
Players to watch: N/A
9. Wesley Chapel (0-0)
This Week: @ Anclote (Wed.), vs Sunlake (Fri.)
The Wesley Chapel Lady Wildcats come into the start of the season, as the #9 ranked team in the Tampa Bay area (their highest ranking to start a season). They will look to sixth year head coach Peter Livingston to lead the team this season. They will also rely on senior guard Arianna Heppenstall, junior Mia Nicholson & senior Kayla Grant. Wesley Chapel will tipoff their regular season tomorrow night at Anclote High School.
10. Clearwater (1-0)
This Week: Defeated Countryside 48-27 (Mon.), vs Carrollwood Day (Thu.), @ East Lake (Fri.), @ Bayshore (Sat.)
The Clearwater Lady Tornadoes are led by 1st year head coach Darian Dublin, who took over for long time head coach Allen Williams who stepped away at the end of last season. Clearwater finished 20-3 last season & 7-0 in District 7A-9 play. Now, the Lady Tornadoes are in District 5A-10 which features familiar faces Bayshore, Boca Ciega, Countryside, Northeast, Osceola & Southeast.
On The Bubble: Bloomingdale, East Lake, Santa Fe Catholic, Steinbrenner, Tampa Prep, Weeki Wachee
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