North Florida Educational battled early but couldn’t keep pace in the Class 1A girls basketball state championship game on Thursday night.

The North Florida Educational Institute girls basketball team made its first trip to the state semifinals count.

The opening round of the girls high school basketball playoffs are in the book with the favorites moving on to the second round. Top seeds Tocoi Creek (1-6A), Bishop Kenny (1-4A), Bolles (1-3A), Providence (1-2A), NFEI (1-1A) and Hilliard (3-1R) all coasted in their openers to advance.

Six area girls basketball teams earned top seeds in their region in the playoff brackets that were announced Sunday afternoon.

High school football season in Florida begins in less than a month. News4JAX has you covered. Here are the team-by-team schedules for schools in the North Florida coverage region.

The News4JAX Super 6 girls high school basketball rankings will be published each Tuesday — except during Christmas week — through the regular season. Records are through Jan. 29.

The News4JAX Super 6 boys high school basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday — except during Christmas week — through the regular season. Records are through Dec. 12,

Will Providence add another Fortegra Invitational basketball championship to its resume? The Stallions, ranked No. 6 in the News4JAX Super 6, have never lost a game in the tournament and have won three of the five championships. Can the Stallions (4-3) add a fourth when they clash with No. 3 Episcopal (7-0) in the championship game on Saturday night?

Lakeland and the final four is the next destination for the NFEI, Ponte Vedra, Providence and Ribault boys basketball teams.

The Bishop Kenny, Oakleaf, Providence, Ridgeview and St. Johns Country Day’s girls basketball teams all stamped their tickets to the third round of the state playoffs on Tuesday night.

Boys high school basketball teams got their playoff assignments on Sunday afternoon and 20 area teams are bound for the postseason.