Since the Girls 1A starts tomorrow, let’s start with some thoughts on this bracket.

If lacrosse was bet like Horse Racing, one of the more likely bets would be to box an exacta on Lake Highland and Episcopal School to meet in the Final Four semifinal and one to make the final, with maybe a few more bucks on LHP over ESJ after LHP won the regular season game 14-7. LHP beat Bishop Moore by 10 goals in the district final and Episcopal School beat St. Augustine 19-7 at Rivalry on the River. Those two are the closest teams in the Power Rankings to LHP and ESJ.

Who else can step up?

The other side of the bracket is STACKED, LOADED and FUN.

Don’t believe it? Go to the FHSAA power ranking page, click Girls, then set it for 100 teams and 1A, then sort by Region, and then sort by 1A power ranking.

There are FOUR teams in the LHP/ESJ half that are ranked below Barron Collier at 32. Take out BC and there are three more below Community School at 28. 12 of the Top 20 are on the other side.

Intriguing Matchups

Pensacola Catholic vs Menendez

Relatively close in the FHSAA rankings, the trip to Pensacola by Menendez is quite a challenge. I’m not sure a Panhandle team has ever beaten a non-Panhandle team in a bracket game (GB beat South Walton last year) and this could be the first.

And Gulf Breeze vs Oak Hall is a similar possibility, if GB can handle the I-10 road trip.

Lake Minneola hosting Edgewood

Here’s a chance to shut me up . . . as is Satellite hosting Lake Wales . . .

But in all likelihood, it will point out the need for District 6 schools to schedule better, and the FHSAA to dig a little deeper

St. Petersburg Catholic vs Holy Names

They didn’t meet in the regular season, but it looks like a possible OT game

Benjamin vs King’s Academy

#5 vs #10 in the state in the first round brings back memories of the one-class system . . . where some years winning the first two rounds was harder than winning the Final Four.

Very surprising they didn’t play in the regular season, given how close they are geographically. Similar margins of victory over common opponents.

Upset Watch?

Kind of a bit of a longshot, but on March 10th it was AH-Plantation losing by 9 goals to Pine Crest, and in the District Final it was 11-9. If it has truly narrowed, could AH-P be poised to stun?

South Fork’s journey to Key West has to be difficult. And Key West might be under the radar given how far they are away from any media coverage statewide. Their resume isn’t bad at all.

#TAFTAG

#LayOffTheRefs

#GrowTheGame

#RespectTheGame

#HonorTheGame