Rickards, Madison County on the rise in latest edition of Big Bend girls basketball power rankings
Area girls basketball teams have saved the best for last.
The upcoming week has some big matchups in store as the regular season winds down. Teams that have traveled outside the area are returning to the Big Bend for final tune-ups before districts.
Here are this week's power rankings.
No. 10: Gadsden County
It's been a challenging stretch for the Jaguars, dropping for straight and having their game against Florida High canceled. Gadsden County has three more games left before districts, on the road against Godby, Munroe, and Florida High. There have been a handful of games this season that the Jaguars have gotten into tight battles, but have come up short. Games against Godby and Munroe should be competitive ones.
No. 9: Taylor County
The Bulldogs continue to inch close to a .500 record on the year, most recently topping JPII by 34 points. Taylor County has five games left and could easily go 4-1 in that stretch. It's biggest challenge comes against 12-3 Providence School in the final game of the season. Either way, a handful of wins down this stretch could be huge for the Bulldogs.
No. 8: Chiles
Having a rollercoaster of a year, the Timberwolves are coming off of a rough five-point loss to one-win Godby. The biggest thing this Chiles team needs is some stability down the stretch, and I think it will be able to find that in these final few games. Showdowns against Lincoln, St. John Paul II, and Maclay should be competitive, but give the slant to the Timberwolves.
No. 7: Aucilla Christian
Not a lot has been able to throw the Warriors off this season. After a 14-point loss to Chiles, Aucilla Christian has rattled off three straight wins, most recently picking up a clutch one-point victory over 1A No. 8 Lafayette. The Warriors have dominated their regular season schedule and continue to see Jenna Lindsey average a double-double (11.1 points per game, 14.0 rebounds per game). It'll be interesting to see how the Warriors stand the test of the postseason in a few weeks.
No. 6: Munroe
Class 2A districts are going to be a must-see event as Munroe throws its hat into the mix. Since late December, the Bobcats have gone 4-1, most recently topping NFC by 12. The Bobcats have rolled through a heavy 2A schedule and are now approaching a final stretch against some bigger schools before districts. Showdowns against Gadsden County, Rickards, and Chiles will be interesting to watch.
No. 5: Madison County
The motto for the Cowgirls has been "Just Chuggin Along", and that's what this team has done week after week. A pair of wins over Gadsden County and Bradford have now propelled this squad into the top 5 rankings in 1A, with a matchup against FAMU DRS on the horizon. Saturday's game against the Rattlers will be one that will put the Cowgirls to the test. A win would only elevate this team higher.
No. 4: Leon
The Lions have really been put to the test in their last four games. They took wide losses to Florida High and Orange Park but nearly pulled off a win over Raines. There's still one more big test ahead of Leon against Wekiva, the No. 2 team in 6A. A breakthrough win of this squad would be huge heading into districts, where they have the possibility of facing Fort Walton Beach and/or Crestview.
No. 3: Rickards
I'd really keep an eye on this team. It took Florida High, one of the top teams in 3A, to its limit last week and beat Chiles by 25, dropping 71 points. With Munroe and Lincoln coming up, Rickards could build a lot of momentum heading into districts. An upset from Munroe or Lincoln (which nearly beat Leon a few weeks ago) isn't ruled out, but this Raiders team is playing some really good basketball.
No. 2: FAMU DRS
After a week off the Baby Rattlers are back to finish out the regular season with games against Godby and Madison County. FAMU DRS has found a lot of success off of its aggressive press and ability to convert in transition. The Baby Rattlers will be facing a Madison County squad that plays a very similar style. The Baby Rattlers do have the talent edge, but it's going to be an interesting matchup.
No. 1: Florida High
The Seminoles were put to the test against Rickards last week and they were able to execute down the stretch for the win. Florida High has three home games left before districts, with 6A No. 2 Wekiva wedged right in the middle. The Seminoles are playing elite basketball right now and games against Wekiva and Pine Forest are going to test them. It's a great challenge before districts.
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com, on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rickards, Madison County on the rise in girls basketball power rankings
