FHSAA girls basketball 1A semifinals preview: Will Wildwood and Madison County advance to championship game?

“We have some unfinished business to take care of and it starts on Wednesday,” Port St. Joe head coach Kenneth Parker said.

We have reached the Final Four across all seven classifications in the 2022 Florida high school athletic association (FHSAA) girls’ basketball playoffs.

Starting Wednesday and continuing through Saturday, 21 games will take place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland (Home of the NBA G-League’s Lakeland Magic). Over the next few days, SBLive will preview all seven semifinals matchups.

Here’s a look at the Class 1A semifinals:

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Class 1A semifinal No. 1: Port St. Joe vs Wildwood - Wednesday at 6:00pm

The first semifinal of the nightcap will feature a Top 10 matchup in Class 1A, as the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks (18-7) who are ranked No. 7 in 1A, face the Wildwood Wildcats (18-4) who come in at No. 1 in 1A.

The Tiger Sharks are led by a young core which includes junior guard Jae Lennox who is looking to reach her second state championship game appearance in the last three years. Last season, they came up short losing 54-38 to Ponce De Leon in the semifinal.

“We have some unfinished business to take care of and it starts on Wednesday,” Port St. Joe head coach Kenneth Parker said following their region final win last week. 

Players to watch for Port St. Joe: Junior guard Jae Lennox (16 points, 5.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game), senior forward Amani Jones (11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game) and junior center Mari Johnson (10.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game).

The Wildcats are led by third year head coach Ryan “RJ” Harrison who is also making his third consecutive final four appearance. The Wildcats are just two wins away from picking up the school’s first state title since 2018 (defeated Port St. Joe).

Players to watch for Wildwood: Senior center Kailani Lindsey (averaging 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game) and freshman Trinidy Harris (averaging 10.8 points and 3.4 steals per game)

Prediction: Wildwood

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Class 1A semifinal No. 2: Madison County vs Ponce De Leon - Wednesday at 8:00pm

The nightcap will feature a Top 5 matchup, as the No. 5 ranked Madison County Cowgirls taking on the No. 2 ranked Ponce De Leon Lady Pirates.

The Lady Pirates are seeking their second consecutive trip to the state championship game (defeated Hawthorne 40-37 in 2021). 

The Cowgirls are seeking their first trip to the state championship since 2016 (defeated Trenton 73-58).

Players to watch for Madison County (19-6): Sophomore guard Janiyah McKnight (15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game), junior forward Nia Long (9.7 points, 7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game) and sophomore center Dakayla Hopkins (9.6 points and 10 rebounds per game).

Players to watch for Ponce De Leon (21-3): Senior guard Nevaeh McCoy (13 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game), junior forward Carmen Jones (9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game) and senior guard Lindy Motley averaging nearly six points and three rebounds per game.

Prediction: Madison County