Okay, let’s get the good out of the way first . . . 3 for 4 and if Jupiter had held on in the fourth . . . Predicted Lake Mary 9-7, they won 7-6. Pretty good. Predicted LHP 16-7 over Newsome, the game ended 19-7 Pat on back . . . Took STA to win comfortably. Barron Collier fell behind 7-1 before coming back strongly to take the game down to the wire.  Almost made my pre-season prediction of a championship come alive from the grave. But STA did win. Like every time this season. And then I missed on SA Again. Every time I pick against them they win. Meaning two things. Someone might actually pay me to pick STA or I’m a little gun shy about doing it again. Up north it will be a little easier. I love what Lake Mary has done the second half of the season and I have a lot of respect for Coach Robinson’s game plans. But this seems to be one step too far. LHP will win 16-9, pulling away midway through the third. On the other side this gets really interesting. In my opinion, having watched the teams play so often I think that STA is a tougher matchup for SA than LHP is. Why? In one word . . . speed. Team speed. SA has gotten to this point with incredible teamwork and a mental toughness late in games.  But Jupiter wasn’t a fast team, not as fast as Stoneman.  And Stoneman was a tough out for SA.  But STA is much faster than Stoneman. This is the challenge for SA. Go man-to-man like Jupiter?  I don’t think you can match up enough. Go zone on STA?  They have some outside shooters and while Barron Collier slowed them down STA did find a way to win. What’s the challenge for STA?  No matter how little you think about it an undefeated streak can be a burden. As Kentucky found out in March. And how does STA match up against SA defensively?  This is where it can get interesting.  Nothing keeps the lid on speed more than a) patience on offense and b) controlling transition opportunities and SA did both against Stoneman and I see a similar game plan coming tomorrow. This game is a long time in coming. SA by a goal or two. I can’t wait to see this one.   And then if these predictions hold true . . . Back to the Future     Okay, fooled you just a little bit But this trailer would seem more appropriate   Hard to believe after last season LHP and SA Again   SA 13-11 Again   But if I’m wrong in the semifinals I’ll be happy too . . . both Coach Crowley and Coach Robinson are deserving of a championship shot too.   I really can’t lose this weekend.  Any of the four teams are deserving as are the coaches.   Get out there and watch. You won’t regret it one bit.   ——-   Oh, one other prediction. I have a sneaky suspicion we are going to see history tomorrow. My biggest prediction of the weekend. Olivia Ferrucci leads Barron Collier to the ultimate upset.   Ponte Vedra and Olympia played an epic 16-15 game up north 4 weeks ago and Olympia won on the road so I’ll take them to repeat the victory   Then Barron Collier takes the championship in a close game.  Meaning that all I had to do in my preseason Final Four prediction was to add the W and O to the MEN and my Barron Collier prediction would be right.   I hope the Vero faithful don’t string me up tomorrow . . .   ———   One more time.  Get out to the games.