JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s one of the biggest stretches for high school athletics in Jacksonville in decades.
The Florida High School Athletic Association’s basketball state tournament began in town last week with the Rural classification championships and continues over the next two weeks.
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This week and next, the Class 1A through 7A basketball tournament tips off at the University of North Florida. It’s the first time the state tournament has been in Jacksonville since the old Coliseum last hosted it in 1976.
Lakeland has served as the hub of the state tournament for most of the years since, save for a five-year run in Tallahassee from 1991 to ‘95.
Now, UNF takes center stage for teams traveling here around the state. Local teams will be very well represented, too. Five girls teams (Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Bolles, NFEI and San Jose Prep) are in the state semifinals. Hilliard reached the Rural final four last week. And five boys teams (Bishop Kenny, Fleming Island, Impact Christian, Jackson, Providence) will be playing in their backyard.
Why is it so big?
The event attracts teams from around the state, meaning significant tourism dollars coming into the market. Lakeland had more than 16,000 tickets purchased for the state tournament last year.
Cost
Tickets are $15 per day in advance, and $18 on game day. Those can be purchased through GoFan.
Parking
Is available on site in Lot 18 at UNF. If that lot is full, there is a shuttle option as well launching from the campus at FSCJ.
Stream
Not going and want to watch a game? Find those available through the NFHS Network here.
The schedule
Thursday, March 5
Class 1A girls state semifinals: Orlando Christian Prep (20-7) vs. Seacrest Country Day (20-7), 1 p.m.
Class 1A boys state semifinals: Central Florida Christian (23-6) vs. Sagemont Prep (22-6), 3 p.m.
Class 1A girls state semifinals: North Florida Educational (16-14) vs. Grandview Prep (24-4), 5 p.m.
Class 1A boys state semifinals: Impact Christian (27-4) vs. Victory Christian (24-6), 7 p.m.
Friday, March 6
Class 1A girls state semifinals: Evangelical Christian (24-4) vs. Holy Trinity Episcopal (19-12), 1 p.m.
Class 2A boys state semifinals: Miami Country Day (23-7) vs. Santa Fe Catholic (23-7), 3 p.m.
Class 1A girls state semifinals: San Jose Prep (20-9) vs. Miami Country Day (26-2), 5 p.m.
Class 2A boys state semifinals: Providence (27-3) vs. Northside Christian (19-11), 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Class 1A girls state championship, noon
Class 2A girls state championship, 2:30 p.m.
Class 1A boys state championship, 5 p.m.
Class 2A boys state championship, 7 p.m.
Monday, March 9
Class 3A girls state semifinals: Somerset Academy Canyons (22-4) vs. Carroll School of the Sacred Heart (22-2), 1 p.m.
Class 3A boys state semifinals: Calvary Christian (22-1) vs. NSU University School (23-5), 3 p.m.
Class 3A girls state semifinals: Bolles (25-4) vs. Lake Highland Prep (24-6), 5 p.m.
Class 3A boys state semifinals: Jackson (28-1) vs. Villages Charter (23-7), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10
Class 4A boys state semifinals: Suncoast (23-5) vs. Boca Ciega (18-10), 1 p.m.
Class 4A girls state semifinals: Bishop Moore (24-4) vs. Booker (18-9), 3 p.m.
Class 4A girls state semifinals: Bishop Kenny (26-4) vs. Plantation American Heritage (17-8), 5 p.m.
Class 4A boys state semifinals: Bishop Kenny (26-3) vs. Port Orange Atlantic (22-9), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11
Class 5A boys state semifinals: Pembroke Pines Charter (20-6) vs. Lecanto (24-6), 9 a.m.
Class 5A girls state semifinals: Blanche Ely (20-5) vs. St. Petersburg (21-7), 11 a.m.
Class 5A boys state semifinals: Fleming Island (22-8) vs. Tampa Jesuit (24-6), 1 p.m.
Class 5A girls state semifinals: Booker T. Washington (22-3) vs. Gateway (26-3), 3 p.m.
Class 3A girls state championship, 5:30 p.m.
Class 3A boys state championship, 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 12
Class 6A state semifinals: St. Thomas Aquinas (26-4) vs. Sickles (26-4), 1 p.m.
Class 6A boys state semifinals: Evans (22-7) vs. Lake Howell (25-5), 9 a.m.
Class 6A girls state semifinals: St. Thomas Aquinas (20-8) vs. George Steinbrenner (23-6), 11 a.m.
Class 6A girls state semifinals: Bartram Trail (16-9) vs. Bayside (22-8), 3 p.m.
Class 4A girls state championship, 5:30 p.m.
Class 4A boys state championship, 8 p.m.
Friday, March 13
Class 7A girls state semifinals: Winter Haven (19-6) vs. Ocoee (24-5), 9 a.m.
Class 7A girls state semifinals: Doral Academy (20-8) vs. Centennial (23-6), 11 a.m.
Class 7A boys state semifinals: Columbus (24-6) vs. Lake Mary (23-7), 1 p.m.
Class 7A boys state semifinals: Oak Ridge (20-9) vs. Sarasota (24-6), 3 p.m.
Class 5A girls state championship, 5:30 p.m.
Class 5A boys state championship, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
Class 6A boys state championship, 9 a.m.
Class 6A boys state championship, noon
Class 6A girls state championship, 2:30 p.m.
Class 7A boys state championship, 5 p.m.
Class 7A girls state championship, 7:30 p.m.