Note: These are predictions from my personal witnessing of teams or reports from respected people around the state about the teams playing. None of these picks are intended for gambling or other illegal reasons. Please take my choices with a grain of salt, if I am wrong then great job by the winning teams. If I am correct, you’re welcome…Tuesday’s Games…
Lawton Chiles Timberwolves (District 1) @ Jacksonville Episcopal Eagles (District 2) – 6:00PM
Chiles and Episcopal both recorded upset wins against the district favorites to win to make it this far. Chiles became the first team in Tallahassee to actually beat the Maclay School, ever. While the Eagles from Jacksonville managed to pull off the largest upset so far, beating a red hot Bolles team who had recently beaten Nease and Bishop Moore. This game will come down to a matter of who has the ball the most and that thank do what’s best during that time. The Timberwolves will have to figure out how to stop Joey Sapora, from the reports I have heard, the kid can just win face-offs. And at this point of the season a hot face-off guy and goalie can do wonders for a team. Chiles brings to the table a lot of desire and fight, having never made it this far in their history, the new kids on the block want to continue to push the envelope with this senior lead team. Look for the skills of Episcopal and the athleticism of Chiles to make for an interesting matchup.
The pick… Episcopal beats Chiles by 2 (11-9). Sapora makes the difference, Chiles goes home with the respect they have earned. Episcopal moves on to face Saint Augustine Nease on Friday.
Winter Springs Bears (District 4) @ Lake Brantley Patriots (District 5) – 7:00PM
The favorites to win their districts, Lake Brantley and Winter Springs will square off on Tuesday to decide which of Seminole County’s teams will move on to the next round of the playoffs to face Apopka. The Swarthmore-bound midfielder Peter D’Amore is the main hope for Winter Springs to move on to upset the extremely athletic Patriots. Look for Maryland-bound LSM Jesse Bernhardt to be constantly hounding D’Amore. This game will be decided by the play of everyone on Winter Springs not named Peter D’Amore, if they can find a way to crack Lake Brantley’s athletic, skilled, and hard hitting defense, then they have a chance.
The pick… Lake Brantley breezes by Winter Springs by 9 (14-5). Jesse Bernhardt wins his matchup verse Peter D’Amore. Once D’Amore puts in a couple goals off face-off fast breaks the Patriots let Jesse push the envelope defensively and Winter Springs don’t have the firepower to top the rest of the Lake Patriots’ defense. Lake Brantley moves on to face the Apopka Blue Darters on Friday.
Saint Andrews Scots (District 10) @ Saint Thomas Aquinas Raiders (District 11) – 7:00PM*My first post listed Saint Andrews as the home team, according to the FHSAA website- which was incorrect; Saint Thomas Aquinas will be hosting the game.
This game will unfortunately not be very pretty, basically a warm-up for Saint Andrews to play Gulliver Prep. Saint Thomas Aquinas is a few years and a good feeder program away from being the next big South Florida private school to be dominant in Florida. The Scots have won so many state championships for a reason; the kids have played forever and they have the coaching to show them the way to be a champion. The Raiders have the coaching and eventually they will have the talent. Just not soon enough…
The pick… Saint Andrews by more than a little over Saint Thomas Aquinas, winning by 18 (23-5). Saint Andrews gets the horses warmed up and the offenses perfected to be ready for Gulliver Prep on Friday.
Bishop Moore Hornets (District 7) @ Lake Highland Prep Highlanders (District 8) – 7:00PM
The game to watch in Central Florida on Tuesday (Sorry LB verse WS), the private schools are ready for this showdown. Both feature potentially high-octane offenses and good defenses. The question will be who hits the cage more during the game, the overall skill of the Highlanders attack and midfield against the precision of the Hornets offense. Look for the Bishop Moore longpoles to have a huge impact or non-impact in the game.
The pick… Bishop Moore longpole finishes on a fast break late in the 4th to give the Hornets a one goal victory over the Lake Highland Prep Highlanders (13-12). Bishop Moore moves on to face Vero Beach on Friday.
Next update… FHSAA Regional Lacrosse Quarterfinals predictions and FSU @ UF prediction for Friday’s games…
Feel free to send me messages on www.twitter.com/OrlandoLax and let me know of any current lacrosse information for the Orlando/Greater Central Florida.
-OrlandoLax
