AT STAKE: A berth in Tuesday's region semifinals. The state finals are March 3-6 at the Lakeland Center.
ADMISSION: $6; FHSAA passes only.
Class 5A, Region 2
HAINES CITY (19-5) AT LAND O'LAKES (14-6)
WHERE: Land O'Lakes gym.
OUTLOOK: The Gators are back in the playoffs as a district champion and host. Roshaunda Washington leads the team averaging 15.2 points and 4.9 steals. Inside, 6-foot center Alison Foster leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game and also is averaging 9.9 points. Land O'Lakes is playoff-tested, reaching the region semifinals last season, but this season it has blown six fourth-quarter leads. Haines City forward LaWanda Fowler was nominated as a McDonald's All-American. The Lakeland Ledger's 2002-03 Player of the Year is averaging 14.8 points.
NEXT STEP: The winner meets King or Wharton.
RIVER RIDGE (7-15) AT LAKE GIBSON (22-6)
WHERE: Lake Gibson gym.
OUTLOOK: Pasco County's surprise entrant in the playoffs hopes to make some noise. River Ridge is led by twin guards Ryane (12.9 ppg) and Lauren (11.9 ppg) Hille. Jackie Studebaker (8.0 rpg) leads the team inside. Injuries, youth and inconsistency plagued the team throughout the season, but the Royal Knights put it together long enough to claim the district runnerup spot and the first playoff spot since 1996. Lake Gibson won its first district title in 13 years thanks to sophomore guard Eunishia Proctor, who scored 23 in the district final and earned Lakeland Ledger player of the week honors. The Braves have dominated their new district, split off from traditional power Winter Haven.
NEXT STEP: The winner meets Alonso or Plant.
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 4 east to Exit 18. Get on U.S. 98 north. Go 3 miles and make a right onto Marcum Road. Go 1/4 mile. Make a left onto Socrum Loop Road.
Class 4A, Region 3
LECANTO (21-6) AT RIDGEWOOD (25-1)
WHERE: Ridgewood gym.
OUTLOOK: It hasn't been easy, or pretty, for the Rams. The team has won six straight, five on the road, since losing all-time leading scorer Crystal Ayers to a season-ending knee injury. The team gutted out road wins to win the conference outright and then the district. Jen Barrett has been a fearless team leader, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 steals. Stephanie Carbone scored 17 to help carry Ridgewood in the district final. The Rams are deep and have found the production they needed on the bench. They face Lecanto, which is deep, talented, athletic and striving for the kind of success with which it is unfamiliar. This team also has found the points it needs from different players. In the district final loss to South Lake, Tiffany Wright scored 15, and Kristen Dorn had 10 in the win over Crystal River. The Panthers have won nine more games this season than in 2002-03.
NEXT STEP: The winner meets Tampa Bay Tech or Winter Haven.
WESLEY CHAPEL (11-10) AT GROVELAND SOUTH LAKE (26-1)
WHERE: South Lake gym.
OUTLOOK: The Wildcats aren't ready for the best season in school history to end. Wesley Chapel has won a school-record 11 games and secured its first playoff berth. Freshman Sthefany Thomas (19.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.0 spg, 2.7 apg) is a multifacted threat, and sophomore post Shandra Brooks (6.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) is a threat inside. The Wildcats face perhaps the toughest opponent Pasco County teams will see in the first round. Forward Kaitlin O'Connell's 22 points led the Eagles to their first district title in 10 years.
NEXT STEP: The winner meets Blake or Lake Wales.
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 north. At Exit 301, get off at State Road 50, turn right and head east. After about 28 miles, turn left onto County Road 565A. At the second street, turn left onto Silver Eagle Road.
Class 3A, Region 2
OCALA WEST PORT (18-5) AT PASCO (19-2)
WHERE: Dr. Donald McBath Activity Center.
OUTLOOK: Pasco regained the form that won 13 straight regular-season games when it won the district. The Pirates are a small, guard-dominated team that thrives on 3-pointers. Alicia Badger leads the team statistically, but Caitlin Elliott has come on strong. A healthy Ashley McSwain gives Pasco a much-needed post presence. West Port isn't a typical runnerup. The Wolf Pack was the top seed in its district but was upset in the finals in consecutive years. Sharongila Bethea had 10 points and eight rebounds in the title game but couldn't make the tying layup. After going 9-0 against district foes, the Wolf Pack has lost two of four.
NEXT STEP: The winner meets Melbourne Central Catholic or Tavares.
