Basketball is alive and well along the Emerald Coats. Both boys and girls teams from around the area excelled in 2016-17.
Boys Hoops:
Starting in District 1-8A, Niceville and Navarre were the cream of the crop. Niceville went 18-6 in the regular season and a perfect 6-0 in district play. Trey Diggs, the 6”4’ senior team captain, led Niceville with 16.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Navarre was led by junior Matt Harshany, who averaged 16.9 points and 2.8 assists per game. The two teams met on Feb. 2 at Navarre for the district title, with Niceville taking the title. Both teams advanced to the regionals, where they were both eliminated by state runner-up Tallahassee Lincoln.
District 1-7A saw traditional powerhouses Pensacola High and B.T. Washington High lead the pack. PHS was a stellar 22-3 with Washington only one game behind at 21-4. In district, PHS was a perfect 10-0 and Washington 8-2. Washington was led by 6”5’ junior Michael Randolph (13.8 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals) and 6”3’ senior David Reynolds (13.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds). PHS downed host school Pine Forest in the district semi-finals, while WHS topped Pace. The Pensacola Tigers took the district crown, yet again.
The District 2-7A title showdown saw 24-1 Choctawhatchee versus 20-5 Crestview. Choctaw was a perfect 4-0 in district play, while Crestview went 2-2. The Choctaw Indians were led by 6”6’ sophomore Diante Smith (14.5 points per game, 3.5 steals), while the Crestview Bulldogs followed senior point guard Rusty Moorer (19.8 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists) to the district crown.
The 7A regional saw these four teams back in action. Choctaw took out PHS in the first round, while Crestview handled Washington. The anticipated rematch saw a different outcome, with the Indians advancing 59-53. Choctaw made it all the way to the regional finals before bowing out.
District 1-6A pitted the Rutherford Rams against crosstown rivals the Mosley Dolphins. The Rams were a perfect 7-0 in district play on their way to a 21-4 regular season record. The Dolphins went 18-9 during the season and 3-3 in district. Rutherford took the district title. Both teams advanced to the Regional, where both were eliminated in the first round.
District 1-5A will see the Catholic Crusaders match up with the surprising West Florida Jags. The Crusaders were expected to make it to the title game after a 21-6 regular season that saw them go a perfect 6-0 in district play. West Florida, not so much. A 6-20 season mark and 2-3 in district clearly placed Cinderella’s slipper on the foot of the Jaguars. Did it fit? Unfortunately, like Cinderella’s step sisters, it did not. The Jags lost the district to Catholic and then were eliminated in the first round of the regionals. Catholic made it all the way to the regional semi-finals before losing to Marianna.
District 3-1A will see two evenly matched Emerald Coast teams vie for the title. Baker led the way with a 15-5 regular season but was edged by Chipley (15-11, 5-1) by one game in the district. The two met again for the district title, with Chipley prevailing. Both schools advanced to the regional, with both being eliminated by West Gadsden.
Girls Hoops:
District 1-8A was led by 19-8 Niceville. The Eagles flew all the way to state regional semifinals before falling to Tallahassee Lincoln. Niceville was led by Grace Annichiarico, Ashley Lane, and Jasmine Griggs. Gulf Breeze surprised the district and advanced to the regionals to also be eliminated by Lincoln.
In District 1-7A, Pensacola High and Washington High continued their winning ways, posting a 12-3 and 13-9 record respectively. The WHS Wildcats were led by Janille Jones and Julia Roberts. The Tigers’ Melainna White led the way. Both teams advanced to the regional tournament, where their seasons abruptly ended with their neighbors to the east from……
District 2-7A was the powerhouse of the Panhandle this season, with district champs Fort Walton Beach Lady Vikings going 22-3 and ending the season for Washington. Choctawhatchee went 18-4 and ended PHS’s season. Choctaw was led by Amber Leggett. The Lady Vikings are led by Alyssa McCloud, Julia Turner, and the best name going, Peanut Payton. The two teams are familiar with each other and will face off again in the regional semifinal. This season, FWB holds a 2-1 advantage over Choctaw, including a win for the district title. But the last four games are 2-2. For one, the dream will continue. For one, next year awaits. Choctaw will be back, but this was the year of the Lady Vikings, advancing all the way to the state championship game. They came up a bit short against state champ Ft. Myers, but it truly was a dream season.
District 1-6A saw Mosley emerge with a 13-9 season and 6-1 district campaign. Joining them in the regionals was Bay (10-7, 5-2). Bay’s season ended in the quarterfinals of the region, Mosley’s in the semis.
District 1-5A was led by Walton (7-3, 2-0) and West Florida (6-8, 2-0). Both teams were eliminated in regional quarterfinal action.
District 3-1A saw Baker and South Walton make the regional tournament. Both schools advanced to the regional semifinals, but that would be the end of Baker’s road. South Walton continued all the way to the state title game, where they lost to Wildwood.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REGIONS BOY AND GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS FOR AN AMAZING SEASON. WE AT IN THE GAME EMERALD COAST CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
Emerald Coassissts Basketball Round-Up
Written by: Edward Spears
