Tampa Bay Area has 15 teams move onto region semifinals after winning playoff openers

Alonso and Newsome will meet in the Class 7A, Region 3 semifinal next week on Tuesday in a All-Tampa Bay matchup

On Thursday night, region quarterfinal got underway throughout the Sunshine State as teams started to make their push on the ‘Road to Lakeland’. The RP Funding Center is where teams want to be in two weeks, but the over 20 Tampa Bay Area teams that qualified to make the postseason has now whittled itself down to 15 going into next week’s region semifinals. 

Now that the games have become final, we take a closer look at some of the region quarterfinal matchups that took place last night and the winners. 

READ: Florida boys high school basketball playoff brackets

7A-3: Plant 48, East Lake 35 

Beating an opponent back to back times is no easy task. 

The Plant Panthers had the assignment of beating the East Lake Eagles on the road twice and it was mission accomplished. Plant defeated East Lake consecutively after defeating them for the Class 7A, District 10 championship. 

Plant held a 23-19 lead at halftime before out-scoring East Lake 25-16 in the second half. Now Plant will gear up for a region semifinal matchup against Winter Haven, whom defeated Sarasota Riverview 81-66. 

6A-3: Palmetto 74, Leto 68

In what might be labeled an upset to some because it’s a No. 1 seed versus a No. 8 seed really shouldn’t be viewed as such. 

Palmetto, the eighth seed in Class 6A, Region 3 went on the road and defeated the number one seeded Leto. The Tigers upended what had been a renaissance season for Leto. 

The Falcons were coming off their first district championship in 28 years, but winning a playoff game. Palmetto has now advanced to face Charlotte, a 64-56 winner over Largo, in the region semifinals. 

5A-2: Jesuit 60, King 48 

The Tigers are off to a strong start to the Class 5A playoffs as they defeated an upstart Lions club at home. 

Jesuit just led 26-25 at halftime, but were able to pull away in the second half behind an all-around effort from its starting five. 

Jaxson Bless scored a team-high 14 points for Jesuit and Nathan Boakye scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and snatched eight steals in the victory. 

2A-2: Orlando Christian Prep 93, Zephryhills Christian 22 

The Warriors ran into a buzzsaw when they faced Orlando Christian Prep on Thursday night. 

Orlando Christian Prep rushed off to a big lead and never looked back. Guard Isaiah Brown led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed six boards. 

Tampa Bay Area Feb. 16 region quarterfinal scores 

7A-3: Newsome 67, Sumner 65

7A-3: Alonso 48, Plant City 41 

6A-3: Charlotte 64, Largo 56

6A-3: Wharton 60, Immokalee 50

6A-3: Palmetto Ridge 56, Countryside 55

5A-3: Mariner 52, Seminole 50

5A-3: St. Petersburg 80, Naples 73 

5A-2: Jones 87, Wesley Chapel 57

5A-2: Leesburg 62, Blake 55

4A-3: Gibbs 76, DeSoto County 36 

4A-3: Lakewood 77, Estero 51 

4A-3: Brooksville Central 68, Robinson 33

3A-3: Tampa Catholic 81, Bradenton Christian 52 

3A-3: Clearwater Calvary Christian 89, Northside Christian 76 

3A-2: Bell Creek Academy 59, Foundation Academy 39 

2A-3: Tampa SLAM 80, Foundation Christian 44 

2A-3: Lakeside Christian 60, Neumann 55

2A-3: Canterbury 73, Seacrest Country Day 61 

2A-3: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal 65; Admiral Farragut 61 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.