As I mentioned last week, and the week before, and the week before . . . Florida teams need to reserve their places!  

  I’m going to keep reminding you until the slots are all filled up so you might as well get going on this! I’m not kidding.   Spring Break is now upon us for many of the schools and the upcoming week’s schedule reflects that as not too many key games are on the docket. Might be a good time to take in a college game or two this week . . . either NCAA or MCLA.  Don’t shy away from the MCLA games, there’s plenty of talent there too!   Spring Break – 1980 . . . I’ll never forget that memory . . . Fortunately, I was able to find an old video of that vacation . . . the 1980 Azalea Festival in Palatka . . .     See kids, we REALLY knew how to party back then!  You have nothing on us today. Okay, no, I didn’t take that video.  But the Palatka thing was true.  A nice Jewish boy going to a college in upstate NY did find his way to Palatka for spring break. Willingly . . .   Unlike most weeks there was really no major result that moved the needle. And really only one big head scratcher. STA went north and dominated Vero Beach 15-3. Not that STA won . . . they were likely the small favorite going in, even as a road team. But there was nothing in Vero’s scores this season that could foresee the final score.   Gulliver knocked off Belen Jesuit 12-9 in what might now become a solid rivalry going forward.  And a very likely preview to a Sweet 16 FHSAA rematch. Buchholz took down Oak Hall 7-6 on Thursday at Oak Hall, making their likely District Final look like must-attend in that area.  That win also raises Matanzas in our eyes too. Lake Mary edged Stoneman Douglas 7-5 at home on Friday in a Top 20 matchup And then we have Saint John Paul II’s week . . . edge West Boca to clinch second place in their district, then beat Top 20 Pine Crest 15-5 on Thursday but lose to Top 20 Nease the next day 16-2.  That’s a little bit of Beta as we say in the investment world. Creekside gave Bolles their second loss of the week 10-9 after Ponte Vedra easily handled them on Monday. Jupiter beat Lake Highland on Friday with a terrific second half On Saturday IMG defeated Plant 17-9.  Wish I could have seen that one to give me a feel for how good Plant really is.   And then we have the MIAA teams . . . showing once again why that conference is likely America’s finest. McDonogh swept LHP and SA and yesterday Boys’ Latin handled LHP comfortably One last shot for SA to get a win against BL on Tuesday . . . McDonogh had at least 11 Division 1 recruits on their roster, BL has at least 15. I’d love one day to report that about one of our schools. Area fans should not miss that game.   Now, an interlude For those who forgot how well the Launch played late last season     That Rochester team went to the Steinfeld Cup a few weeks later.  the Launch also manhandled the champs a few weeks earlier.  The season begins late April.  As long as the Launch don’t dig an early hole while the college season plays out and the NLL season finished . . . look out MLL. Make the playoffs.  Win the Cup! A maybe we can have the Palm Beach County Sports Commission hold a celebration. Ticker tape parade in Mizner Park?   Let’s look back at last week’s Top 20:   #1 – Saint Andrew’s – solid effort against McDonogh, then a big road win #2 tie –  St. Thomas Aquinas – also a big road win #2 tie – Ponte Vedra – quiet, easy week #4 – Oxbridge – April 1st looms large #5 – Lake Brantley – go watch Jared Bernhardt before you no longer can’t #6 – Jupiter – excellent week with wins over Benjamin and Lake Brantley #7 – Maclay – just keeps finding a way to win . . . again.  tough road trips to end the season #8 – Benjamin – just can’t get over the hump #9 – H.B. Plant – IMG game was difficult to assess #10 – Vero Beach – no, thy couldn’t pull an upset and didn’t look good losing #11 – Lake Highland – Has Florida ever had a Final four team with a losing record before?  Coach Spaulding is buying Maalox by the case. #12 – Oak Hall – tripped up at home #13 – Jensen Beach – continues it’s surge #14 – Lake Mary – good home win but a monster finish to the season, the Georgia schools are both high-end and the STA trip #15 –Belen Jesuit – Proved they can play with Gulliver, a big step up from last year.  Must beat Boca Raton to stay in the Top 20 #16 –  Creekside – keeps winning, Maclay at home Friday #17 –  Stoneman Douglas – a long road trip to lose by two.  Keeps playing good games. #18 –  Gulliver Prep – Right now the best team in Dade County #19 – Pine Crest – couldn’t rise to the occasion Thusday #20 tie – Bishop Moore and Nease – Nease yes, BM no   Also considered:   American Heritage-Plantation – thud Berkeley Prep – no real signature win yet Bolles – hard luck squad this year Buchholz – gets huge win Cardinal Gibbons – needs to beat someone really good and that can only happen in Districts Matanzas – sneaky good season, can make noise Wednesday Newsome – has to win the last two games to get back into the Top 20 Tampa Jesuit – not going forward Timber Creek – no more, does have three big games left.   And now for the Underdog Upset of the Week!  

  A couple of games caught my eye this week First, congrats to Richard Williamson and Riverdale for their first win in 23 games as they took down Palmetto Ridge 6-5 in 2 OT’s!  It’s only the fourth win for the program since 2009.  Let’s hope a few years from now we have a different story to write for them. Another big result was Miami-Palmetto, a District 32 winner last year whose roster was decimated by off-season issues, came up with their first win of the season, avenging an earlier season loss to Miami-Killian. One other game that was interesting was the Atlantic-Delray win over John I Leonard 9-7 in JIL’s last game of the year.  Last year I noted that JIL had never won a game in their program’s history and it’s great to see that they came close to ending that nightmare.  I look forward to writing that victory story when it happens.   And now, a word from another sponsor:   After listening to it for about 10 seconds there’s no way I’m uploading this but imagine my surprise to find out there was a Gainesville-area band actually named Palatka . . .   So, instead, here’s a different sponsor   https://youtu.be/wEtc5Y54i1s Mello Yello!!! Is it still being sold?   Anyhow, the upcoming week is a little shy of big games as Spring Break takes its’ toll . . .   Tuesday Lake Highland Prep hosts Jupiter Saint Andrew’s hosts Boys’ Latin   Wednesday Oak Hall hosts St. Albins of DC   Thursday Lake Brantley hosts Winter Park Pine Crest hosts Jensen Beach   Saturday Nease hosts Maclay St. Thomas Aquinas hosts Lake Mary   To clean the palette before the new Top 20, here’s a tribute to Ronald Reagan in honor of the passing of Nancy:   Somewhere in heaven there must be a heck of a welcoming party going on.   We’ll dispense with the Drum Roll this week   This Week’s Top 20!   #1 – Saint Andrew’s #2 tie –  St. Thomas Aquinas #2 tie – Ponte Vedra #4 – Oxbridge #5 – Jupiter #6 – Maclay #7 –  Lake Brantley #8 – Lake Highland #9 – H.B. Plant #10 –  Benjamin #11 –  Jensen Beach #12 – Lake Mary #13 – Creekside #14 –  Nease #15 – Gulliver Prep #16  – Vero Beach #17 –  Stoneman Douglas #18 –   Oak Hall #19 –  Buchholz #20 tie Belen Jesuit and Dr. Phillips   Also considered:   Berkeley Prep Cardinal Gibbons Matanzas Newsome Winter Park   And finally some bonus coverage;     Get out to a game this week!