Polk Hoops Update: Postseason Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regular season has officially ended for high school basketball in Polk County. As the postseason approaches, the stakes are higher than ever for teams vying for district championship titles. From buzzer-beating shots to nail-biting finishes, we've seen it all this season. Who will rise to the occasion and take home the coveted district championship title? Let's dive in and find out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winter Haven Blue Devils (22-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Winter Haven basketball team is the Real Deal! The Blue Devils are on a 21-game winning streak after dropping their first game back in November. Winter Haven has been one of the top teams in the county for the past few years and entered the 2023 season ranked first on my ranking list. While losing some production, senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1055750' first='Isaac' last='Celiscar'] has developed into a star. Combined with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1055762' first='Jamie' last='Phillips'] Jr and other important key role pieces, this team could be on track for another showdown in the state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Victory Christian Academy (21-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Victory jumped on the Polk radar last season while taking down some of the tough high schools in the area. Coach Steve Fitzgerald and staff have transformed this Victory basketball program into a problem in the Lakeland area. This team is battle-tested with star player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055782' first='Lorenzo' last='Cason']</strong> finding his scoring groove at the right time. The overall development and combination of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1296001' first='Mike' last='Andino'] and</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055581' first='Jordan' last='Lanier']</strong> have completed this team. Add in the lengthy forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299674' first='Thok' last='Gol']</strong> and other key role pieces, you have a solid team ready to push for a state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Santa Fe Hawks (21-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks under head coach Mike Blicher have steadily improved on both sides of the ball. Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1450225' first='Tate' last='Darner']</strong> has been on fire since the start of the season and showing his game can translate to the next level. 6-6 senior Danilo Stankovic has completed this team and given a solid front-court presence. Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295941' first='Hudson' last='Dykhuizen']</strong> is a versatile package that provides rim protection and consistent scoring. Look out for Santa Fe to make some noise and earn a district title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeland Dreadnaughts (16-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dreadnaughts have put together a solid regular season as they usually do. This team is a combination of pure athleticism and chemistry as more than half the team came over after winning a football state championship. Junior guard Tre Jackson is a scoring threat for this team as he's leading in points (12.4) throughout the season. Senior guard Jameson Young and forward Jayren Dennis have added a spark to the squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McKeel Academy (17-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats have put together a solid regular season with senior guard and recent NSU commit Alex Sessmoms leading the way with impressive leadership and scoring outputs. This is a solid team heading into the postseason with key role players coming together to create a tough roster. Another important piece has been junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2217891' first='Axel' last='Acevedo'], averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. He provides a solid paint presence along with the athleticism of Sessoms. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>Best of the Rest: Polk County (records and next opponent)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Excel Christian (17-5)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartow (16-9) vs. Kathleen (4-19)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Discovery (19-5)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sebring (16-8) vs. Southeast (8-14)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Region (13-12) vs. Lake Wales (9-16)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davenport (11-13) vs. Auburndale (8-17)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Gibson (12-13) vs. Liberty (6-16)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->