FHSAA boys basketball 1A semifinals preview: Will Hawthorne and Paxton advance to the state title game?
We have reached the Final Four across all seven classifications in the 2022 Florida high school athletic association (FHSAA) boys basketball playoffs.
Starting Wednesday and continuing through Saturday, 21 state tournament games will take place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland (Home of the NBA G-League’s Lakeland Magic). Over the next few days, SBLive will preview all of the semifinals' matchups.
Here’s a look at the Class 1A semifinals:
Class 1A semifinal No. 1: Bradford vs Hawthorne - Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The first semifinal will feature a Top 5 matchup in Class 1A, as the No. 4 ranked Bradford Tornadoes (14-10) make their first trip to Lakeland to take on the top-ranked team in 1A, the Hawthorne Hornets (11-4).
The Tornadoes are led by second-year head coach Sampson Jackson.
“It’s exciting to continue playing basketball into March,” Jackson said after his team’s Region Final win over Madison County last week.
Players to watch for Bradford: Junior guard Shayne Davis (10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and two steals per game), Senior guard Jontez Williams (9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game) and sophomore guard Dae’Jon Shanks (9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game)
The Hornets are led by 14th year head coach Greg Bowie (the brother of former Florida Gators tight end Cornelius Ingram). The Hornets are making their second final four trip in the last three seasons.
Players to watch for Hawthorne: Freshman guard CJ Ingram (14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game), Junior guard DJ Slater (10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and three assists per game) and forward Jailen Ruth (9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game).
Prediction: Hawthorne
---
Class 1A semifinal No. 2: Malone vs Paxton - Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The other 1A semifinal will feature the Paxton Bobcats (23-4) vs. the Malone Tigers (24-5). The Bobcats are looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since 2016, when they lost to Chipley 65-38.
The Tigers are looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since 2014, when they defeated Hamilton County 78-61.
The Bobcats are led by head coach Jeff Bradley, who is making his third Final Four trip with the program.
Players to watch for Paxton: Senior guard Latrell Sanders (18.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game), junior guard Kenyon Simmons (11.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game) and senior guard Kage Wibbing (9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game).
The Tigers are led by 17th year head coach Steven Welch who is coaching in his second final four with the program.
Players to watch for Malone: Senior guard Kaleb Wilson (23.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and nearly three steals per game), freshman forward Jackson Welch (9.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game) and senior forward Javier McClendon (9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game).
Prediction: Paxton
