Class 6A Season Preview (Part 1)

Class 6A was one of the tougher classes to watch unfold, last year. This season should be no different. Check out Districts 1-8 as we go through who has a shot to hoist their group's trophy. SEASON PREVIEWS: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A (PT. 1), 5A (PT. 2) 2016-17 State Champion: Leesburg 2016-17 Runner-Up: Cape Coral-Mariner 6A-District 1 2016 Winner: Panama City-Rutherford went 22-5 and only dropped one road game last year en route to a district title win over Lynn Haven-Mosley. The Rams ran away with the W pretty handedly, beating Mosley by 13, but would lose their home match against Tally-Rickards by four in the Regional Quarters. Teams To Watch: Mosley Other Teams In District: Panama City-Bay, Panama City-Arnold Predicted District Champion: I can see Rutherford repeating as champs, even though their top two scorers are gone to graduation. Mosley is losing a lot of depth. It will be interesting to see how they compete. Now-junior Lorenzo Ferrell is coming off a season where he averaged nearly 14 points and two steals a night. Look for him to be a focal point. 6A-District 2 2016 Winner: “Godby” just SOUNDS like a team that scares you, a bit. They must have done that to a few opponents, as they went 25-2 on the way to a district crown. Their only regular season loss came by the hands of the team they beat in the championship game, as well as the Regional Semis, Rickards. Teams To Watch: Rickards Other Teams In District: Live Oak-Suwannee, Crawfordville-Wakulla Predicted District Champion: This might be the year Rickards does it. Sure, they've lost a few to graduation. Although, their top two scorers Vincent McCray and Alic Troutman, combined for nearly 26 points a game, last season. They are back. If the bench can get on the floor and produce, paired with the growth of Vince & Alic, they have just as good a shot as any. 6A-District 3 2016 Winner: Jacksonville-Ribault had an outstanding run to the Final Four after beating Jacksonville-Terry Parker for the district crown. Going 22-8 and 6-1 in district play, the Trojans tapped Godby in the Regional Final before falling to eventual Class 6A champion Leesburg in the State Semis. Teams To Watch: Yulee, Jax-Terry Parker, Jax-Bishop Kenny Other Teams In District: Jax-Stanton, Jax-Paxon Predicted District Champion: Ribault definitely has Parker's number. But with more than half the Ribault team gone to graduation, this can be the break Parker is looking for. They reached the title game while going 20-4, last season. Despite the district title loss, Parker pulled off a 19-point Regional Quarterfinal win on the road against Orange Park, before falling to Ribault again in the Semis. With Parker's top-three scorers gone this year, my only question is where do the points come from? If they can create an answer, don't be surprised if they end up with the hardware. 6A-District 4 2016 Winner: Orange Park went 14-14 during the regular season, but took home the trophy after a 60-52 win vs Glen St. Mary-Baker County, last year. They were led by John Abate, who averaged a team-high 10.5 PPG in 2016-17. Teams To Watch: Baker County Other Teams In District: Orange Park-Ridgeview, Jax-Wolfson, Jax-Westside Predicted District Champion: Baker County lost five seniors, but they have five NEW seniors that should make a splash in their last campaign. Nick Lee and Wesley Belford combined for nearly 19 points and three and a half steals a game, last year. Now that you're surrounding them with three more seniors, the gel is going to get stronger over time. I anticipate them having a solid nucleus come February. 6A-District 5 2016 Winner: Palatka finished the season at 22-9 with not only a district championship win, but a Final Four berth, as well. The Panthers beat Matanzas by 12 in the title game and marched to the State Semis after a seven-point home win over Nature Coast Tech in the Regional Semis. Teams To Watch: Palm Coast-Matanzas, Ponte Vedra Other Teams In District: Green Cove Springs-Clay, St. Augustine-Menendez Predicted District Champion: Mitchell McKinnon and Chamar Dumas are going to lead this Palatka team to district title repeat. They torched defenses last year, combining for nearly 25 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, a game. It's no doubt that they were a major catalyst to their Final Four run. There's no telling if they'll get back to THAT point. But if they play anywhere near the way they did in 2016-17, the district will notice. 6A-District 6 2016 Winner: Hard-nosed Alachua-Santa Fe coach Elliot Harris led his Raiders to a 16-12 record on the way to a district trophy. A bit of their season was up and down, but when it mattered most, they closed out Gainesville-Eastside to take home the hardware. Teams To Watch: Eastside, Citra-North Marion Other Teams In District: Belleview, Dunnellon Predicted District Champion: Eastside has a crew led by coach “Pop” Williams that is ready to take their team to the next level. After the four-point Regional Quarterfinal loss to Palatka, the chip is on their shoulder. Their guard play is comprised of strong, scrappy hoopers such as Kofi Asare and Anthony Wright. If Malik Richardson can be a force in the post like Pop expects him to be, expect a championship. 6A-District 7 2016 Winner: The Brooksville-Central Bears went 20-10 and won more on the road than at home on the way to their district championship win. They beat Nature Coast Tech by eight to clinch the title, but Tech would get their revenge in the Regional Semis with a 22-point win of their own over Central. Teams To Watch: Inverness-Citrus, Crystal River, Brooksville-Nature Coast Tech Other Teams In District: Brooksville-Hernando, Lecanto, Weeki Wachee Predicted District Champion: The Sharks will be out for blood, this season. Nature Coast Tech went 27-2 with their FIRST loss coming at the hands of Central in the district championship. Their leading scorer averaged nearly 20 PPG, three of their top five scorers from last season are returning. The Sharks have one of the best setups to compete for the district glory. 6A-District 8 2016 Winner: Zephyrhills pulled out a gritty 58-57 win over New Port Richey-Ridgewood in the district championship as a part of their 18-10 season. They followed up with another tough performance against Nature Coast Tech, but fell to them in the Regional Quarterfinals by four points. Teams To Watch: Ridgewood, Hudson, Holiday-Anclote Other Teams In District: Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey-River Ridge, Dade City-Pasco, New Port Richey-Gulf, Hudson-Fivay Predicted District Champion: Hudson could be the squad that sneaks up on that district. Check this: Last season, two then-sophomores named Nick Richardson & Shawn Esajas combined for 21 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and nearly three steals, per game. Their best scorer, now-senior  Mark Calleja, was putting up 19 points a night. Not too much production missing with the few seniors that are now gone. Hudson may end up a favorite come district tourney time.