FHSAA girls basketball 3A semifinals preview: Will Cardinal Mooney and Westminster Academy advance to championship game?

The Westminster Academy Lions (25-5) might be the hottest team in the state, regardless of classification coming into the week on a 15-game winning streak.

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 3A semifinals:

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Class 3A semifinal No. 1: King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) vs Cardinal Mooney - Wednesday at 2:00pm

The King’s Academy Lions (24-5), led by third year head coach Chris Race, are making their first Final Four appearance in school history. The Lions are coming into Lakeland riding a 10-game winning streak that dates to January 8 where they lost 55-42 to St. Thomas Aquinas.

How did King’s Academy get here? Defeated West Shore (Melbourne) 64-20 in the regional quarterfinals, defeated Cardinal Newman 43-25 in the regional semifinals and followed up with a 64-51 win over Holy Trinity Episcopal in the region final.

Players to watch for King’s Academy: Freshman forward Jade Jones averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game, junior forward Janessa Williams averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and junior guard Jordan Race who is averaging 8.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and a team best 3.2 assists per game this season.

On the other side, the Cardinal Mooney Cougars (18-6) are back in the Final Four for the second straight year. The Cougars are looking to advance to their second straight state championship game as well, lost to Miami Country Day in 2021.

The Cougars are led by fourth year head coach Rico Antonio, who has won 20 or more games in each of his first three seasons so far. In order to make it a fourth straight 20-win season, the Cougars will have to win their first title in program history.

Players to watch for Cardinal Mooney: Junior guard Olivia Davis (16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game), Freshman guard Kali Barrett (11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game) and Junior forward Jordyn Byrd (9.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season).

Prediction: Cardinal Mooney

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Class 3A semifinal No. 2: Florida State University High (Tallahassee) vs Westminster Academy - Wednesday at 4:00pm

The Florida High Seminoles (20-3) are led by eighth year head coach Darryl Marshall and is making his first appearance in the Final Four as a head coach. The Seminoles are currently on an 11-game winning streak that dates to December 30, 2021, where they sustained a 63-41 loss to Miami High.

Players to watch for Florida High: Senior guard Tonie Morgan (20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and four assists per game), senior guard Audia Young (16.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game) and junior guard Laniyah Gennie averaging 8.2 points and three rebounds per game this season.

The Westminster Academy Lions (25-5) might be the hottest team in the state, regardless of classification coming into the week on a 15-game winning streak. 

Players to watch for Westminster Academ:. Freshman forward Lena Girardi (20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game), senior guard Claire Erickson (14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game) and junior forward Taelyn Carey (8.3 points and 10 rebounds per game).

Prediction: Westminster Academy