JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saturday is a massive day for several area high school teams.
Five teams will play for state championships — three in soccer and two in girls basketball. A look at the teams, times and what’s at stake.
Boys soccer
St. Joseph (20-7) vs. Pine (17-1)
What: Class 1A championship
Where: Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand
When: 10 a.m.
Watch it: Game will be streamed on the NFHS Network. It can be purchased here.
Notable: The Flashes had no trouble rolling over Canterbury 3-0 in the semifinals. It’s the first time St. Joseph has reached the championship game. Kyle Jackson scored twice and Alex Altman had the other score and an assist for St. Joseph. A win by the Flashes would give St. Johns County its first boys champion since Ponte Vedra in 2016. No local boys team has won a state title since Fleming Island in 2017.
Girls soccer
St. Johns Country Day (19-3-1) vs. Pine (16-1-1)
What: Class 1A championship
Where: Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand
When: 1 p.m.
Watch it: Game will be streamed on the NFHS Network. It can be purchased here.
Notable: The Spartans continued mashing teams with a 6-0 drubbing of South Florida HEAT in the state semifinals. They’ve outscored their playoff opponents by a combined 25-0 and haven’t allowed a goal in nine consecutive games. St. Johns has 14 state championships, all of those under iconic head coach Mike Pickett.
Episcopal (14-5-3) vs. Benjamin (10-5-3)
What: Class 2A championship
Where: Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand
When: 7 p.m.
Watch it: Game will be streamed on the NFHS Network. It can be purchased here.
Notable: The Eagles stunned top-seeded Ransom Everglades 3-1 in the Class 2A state semifinals on Thursday night for their first trip to the finals. Rivers Carney nailed a penalty kick in the first half, Lila Ranalli put Episcopal up on a free kick 55 minutes in and Charlotte Ritter hit the second PK with six minutes to play to deliver the Eagles and head coach Jay Bolt a spot in the finals.
Girls basketball
Providence (24-6) vs. Miami Country Day (19-11)
What: Class 2A championship
Where: RP Funding Center, Lakeland
When: 1 p.m.
Watch it: Game will be streamed on the NFHS Network. It can be purchased here.
Notable: The Stallions had no trouble in their state semifinal, crushing Holy Trinity Episcopal 61-44. That means Providence and head coach Gigi Bistrow will get Miami Country Day for a fourth consecutive time in Lakeland. They’ve played MCD in the 2017 state championship game and two other times in the state semis. But could this season be different? The Spartans struggled in their semifinal, narrowly getting by Evangelical Christian (37-35).
Bolles (25-5) vs. Cardinal Mooney (23-9)
What: Class 3A championship
Where: RP Funding Center, Lakeland
When: 5 p.m.
Watch it: Game will be streamed on the NFHS Network. It can be purchased here.
Notable: The Bulldogs had never been to the state semifinals before this season. They edged Somerset Academy Canyons 57-50 in OT to get there. Four Bolles players reached double figures in scoring, with Abby Knauff (16) leading the way. Terrell McCoy had a monster game, pulling in 19 rebounds and scoring 14. Evie Freeman had 13 points and nine rebounds and Presley Norman added 10.