The girls basketball playoffs continue with the region semifinals. Here are the capsules for the Tampa Bay area teams playing in each class. The winners advance to the region finals on Thursday.
Class 6A
Region 3
No. 5 Armwood (20-9) at No. 1 Bloomingdale (27-0), 7
This is the fourth time the 6A-10 district rivals have met this season. The host Bulls won the previous three, though two of those victories were by four points or less, including the district final. Bloomingdale fell behind in the first quarter before rallying for a 40-39 victory to win its third straight district title and keep its perfect season intact. After starting the season 8-6, the Hawks have won 12 of their last 15 games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Armwood | Bloomingdale |
| Points | Na’Chauncia Welch, 10.4 | Noelle Mengel, 20.5 |
| Rebounds | Aniyah Moreno, 6.6 | Izellah Kendrick, 7.8 |
| Assists | Na’Chauncia Welch, 3.2 | Aviance Torres, 2.8 |
| Steals | Amaya Richardson, 3.7 | Noelle Mengel, 2.9 |
| Blocks | Aniyah Moreno, 1.5 | Izellah Kendrick, 1.3 |
No. 3 Wharton (23-4) at No. 2 Punta Gorda Charlotte (16-5), 7
The Wildcats beat Hillsborough in the quarterfinals for their first playoff victory since 2005. That also set the school record for most victories in a season. Now, Wharton tries to keep its dream season going with a matchup against the host Tarpons, who enter on a seven-match win streak.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Wharton | Charlotte |
| Points | Tamara Bryant, 10.4 | Kamie Ellis, 16.1 |
| Rebounds | Tamara Bryant, 7.3 | Abigail Willis, 5.6 |
| Assists | Nina Green, 4.4 | Kamie Ellis, 2.1 |
| Steals | Nina Green, 3.9 | Kamie Ellis, 2.7 |
| Blocks | Sydney Hurst, 1.1 | Abigail Willis, 0.7 |
Class 5A
Region 2
No. 4 Lecanto (18-7) at No. 1 River Ridge (23-5), 7
The Royal Knights, the top seed in the region, cruised to a 60-32 victory over Bellview in the quarterfinals. It was the 11th straight game River Ridge has held an opponent to 38 points or less. The Panthers, meanwhile, are trying to find some consistency after going 2-2 in their last four games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Lecanto | River Ridge |
| Points | Ijyana Edwards, 15.4 | Lauren Lee, 11.8 |
| Rebounds | Aaliyah Beaver, 8.9 | Lauren Lee, 6.7 |
| Assists | Ijyana Edwards, 3.7 | JP Ferguson, 3.2 |
| Steals | Bryleigh Florio, 5.0 | JP Ferguson, 3.2 |
| Blocks | Aaliyah Beaver, 2.4 | Lauren Lee, 1.7 |
No. 6 Spoto (18-9) at No. 2 Leesburg (23-1), 7
The Spartans, who won their second straight 5A-8 district two weeks ago, made history by winning a playoff game for the first time in the quarterfinals. Defense has been the key. Spoto has held opponents to 40 points or less in all but one of its victories this season. Now comes the tough part, a matchup with the Yellow Jackets, who are undefeated at home and enter on a 12-game win streak.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Spoto | Leesburg |
| Points | Jayla Griffin, 15.4 | Saige McCloud, 20.2 |
| Rebounds | Dominique Boone, 7.2 | Saige McCloud, 3.9 |
| Assists | Jayla Griffin, 2.1 | Aniyah Hester, 2.4 |
| Steals | Jayla Griffin, 3.9 | Ariyana Hester, 4.0 |
| Blocks | Dominique Boone , 2.6 | Saige McCloud, 0.3 |
Region 3
No. 3 Port Charlotte (17-11) at No. 2 Clearwater (16-6), 7
This is the second straight season the host Tornadoes have faced the Pirates in the playoffs. Clearwater won 70-59 in the last year’s region finals. Despite graduating three of its top four leading scorers, the Tornadoes have come together at the right time. After starting 6-4, they have won 10 of their last 12 games. Port Charlotte has won three straight games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Port Charlotte | Clearwater |
| Points | Ariyanna Lockey-Progl, 12.2 | Allevia Williams, 17.4 |
| Rebounds | Hailey Cohen, 8.0 | Quenya Turner, 4.7 |
| Assists | Hailey Cohen, 3.9 | Allevia Williams, 0.9 |
| Steals | Mariah Epting, 2.9 | Allevia Williams, 2.4 |
| Blocks | Hailey Cohen, 0.9 | Quenya Turner, 1.4 |
Class 4A
Region 3
No. 4 Gibbs (14-8) at No. 1 Lakewood (20-4), 7
This is a rematch from a game the host Spartans won 70-59 last month. Lakewood already has taken home PCAC and 4A-10 district titles during its current nine-game win streak. All but two of those victories were by double digits. The Gladiators bounced back from a late season slump to beat Fort Myers Gateway 51-44 in the quarterfinals.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Gibbs | Lakewood |
| Points | Peyton Flourney, 14.0 | Alahni Lovett, 20.2 |
| Rebounds | N/A | Rianna Callihan, 7.3 |
| Assists | N/A | Sumayah McIntosh, 3.7 |
| Steals | N/A | Sumayah McIntosh, 6.4 |
| Blocks | N/A | Sumayah McIntosh, 2.4 |
No. 3 Sarasota Booker (14-9) at No. 2 Academy of the Holy Names (21-8), 7
This is the rematch the Jaguars have been waiting for. Last year, Academy of the Holy Names’ season ended with a loss to the Tornadoes in the region final. The Jaguars have won 10 of their last 11 games, the lone loss in that stretch coming against Lakewood in the 4A-10 district final. After starting 7-9, Booker has turned things around with seven straight wins.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Booker | Academy of the Holy Names |
| Points | Jakai Peterson, 15.1 | Lucy Morey, 14.8 |
| Rebounds | Yvette Brown, 6.1 | Morgan Hunt, 7.6 |
| Assists | Yvette Brown, 2.7 | Lucy Morey, 4.1 |
| Steals | Jakai Peterson, 3.5 | Lucy Morey, 3.3 |
| Blocks | Jakai Peterson, 0.5 | Tegan Drinkwater, 1.5 |
Class 3A
Region 2
No. 4 Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal (14-11) at No. 1 Seffner Christian (23-4), 7
The Crusaders, ranked fourth in class by MaxPreps, have won six straight games. Three of Seffner Christian’s four losses this season were by single digits. After starting the season 6-8, the Tigers have won eight of their last 11 games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Holy Trinity Episcopal | Seffner Christian |
| Points | Allinah Sarratt, 11.2 | Nicole Carreno, 15.2 |
| Rebounds | Jadalynn Morel, 4.4 | Nicole Carreno, 6.2 |
| Assists | Kylie Green, 1.3 | Jade Thompson, 5.1 |
| Steals | Kylie Green, 1.6 | Nevaeh Lee, 4.4 |
| Blocks | Allison Lagrone, 0.3 | Nicole Carreno, 0.6 |
Region 3
No. 4 Tampa Prep (15-9) at No. 1 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (20-6), 7
Playing a tough schedule has paid off for the Terrapins. They are 4-1 in their last five games, including a 76-54 victory over Clearwater Central Catholic in the quarterfinals. To keep that momentum going, Tampa Prep will have to get past the Cougars, the top seed in the region. Cardinal Mooney, winners of 11 straight games, is playing its best basketball at the right time.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Tampa Prep | Cardinal Mooney |
| Points | Gabby Bush, 15.6 | Kali Barrett, 14.2 |
| Rebounds | N/A | Madi Mignery, 10.4 |
| Assists | N/A | Bri Behn, 3.6 |
| Steals | N/A | Sy’Monique Simon, 1.9 |
| Blocks | N/A | Madi Mignery, 0.9 |
No. 3 Fort Myers Bishop Verot (21-6) at No. 2 Tampa Catholic (20-6), 7
The Crusaders, led by the 1-2 scoring punch of Ashley Knox and Khalia Woodley, extended their win streak to 10 games with a 63-30 win over Bradenton Christian in the quarterfinals. That stretch includes victories over North Tampa Christian, Academy of the Holy Names, Gibbs and Wharton, all of which are still alive in the playoffs. The Vikings know to prevail in close games. Two of their last four wins were decided five points or less.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Bishop Verot | Tampa Catholic |
| Points | Cameron O’halloran, 15.9 | Ashley Knox, 15.9 |
| Rebounds | Josee Fry, 10.6 | Ashley Knox, 6.3 |
| Assists | Cameron O’halloran, , 2.4 | Khalia Woodley, 3.3 |
| Steals | Cameron O’halloran, 2.9 | Akyla Lloyd, 2.0 |
| Blocks | N/A | Ashley Knox, 0.6 |
Class 2A
Region 2
No. 3 Mount Dora Christian (18-9) at No. 2 North Tampa Christian (21-2), 7
The Titans have already done some impressive things in their first year as a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association. They have already won a district title and are ranked fifth in the class by MaxPreps. Now they are one game away from a region final appearance. The Bulldogs have won their last four games by 22 or more games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Mount Dora Christian | North Tampa Christian |
| Points | Aranya Alexander, 8.6 | Arianna Murray, 21.1 |
| Rebounds | Tai Haynes, 5.8 | Arianna Murray, 7.3 |
| Assists | Natalie Doan, 5.0 | Aliyah Harris-Green, 5.7 |
| Steals | Natalie Doan, 2.9 | Aliyah Harris-Green, 5.0 |
| Blocks | Cassi Monn, 0.7 | Cali Midyett, 1.2 |
Region 3
No. 4 Keswick Christian (23-4) at No. 1 Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (22-3), 7
The Crusaders, winners of six straight games, have the misfortune of being in one of the toughest districts in the state. Despite being ranked sixth in the class by MaxPreps, Keswick Christian has to travel to Fort Myers to take on Evangelical Christian in a rematch of last year’s region final. The defending state semifinalist Sentinels have won nine straight games.
Stat leaders (per game averages)
| Category | Keswick Christian | Evangelical Christian |
| Points | Ava Graham, 21.2 | Maddie O’berski, 11.8 |
| Rebounds | Angel L’eon, 6.2 | Zaira Mitchell, 4.8 |
| Assists | Ava Graham, 3.7 | Jadah Toombs, 3.5 |
| Steals | Ava Graham, 2.7 | Kellisia Grant, 2.7 |
| Blocks | Angel L’eon, 1.0 | Maddie O’berski, 0.8 |
