Girls basketball districts: Providence, Mandarin, Oakleaf, Bishop Kenny among winners

After a sloppy second quarter, Providence head coach Gigi Bistrow realized it was time for a turnaround.

An 18-0 run later, she knew the Stallions got the message.

"Everything that happened bad in the first half was because we let it happen," Bistrow said. "We had to take control of the game, and it really seemed like they responded."

A young Providence team urged back from a halftime hole, overcoming Episcopal 43-32 in Friday night's Florida High School Athletic Association District 3-3A girls basketball championship inside the Barfield Gymnasium.

Episcopal (13-13) had seized the lead going into the half on Kendall Shorstein's 3-pointer at the second-quarter buzzer, but Providence responded with 18 unanswered points to turn the game upside down. Kennedy Loux hit a go-ahead three and Ella Ortman sank a flurry of shots as the Stallions pulled away.

For Providence (19-5), which will open the regional tournament next Thursday, youth and depth came through to compensate for regulars hampered by injury and illness. The Stallions fielded four freshmen for portions of the second-half run in Loux, Julianna Baskin, Kasey Davey and Miley Dill.

"It's a very promising future," Bistrow said.

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Northeast Florida girls soccer district tournaments: St. Johns, Stanton among winners

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DISTRICT 1-7A

Kiyana Hunter scored 13 points and Nykeria Thomas added 10 as Gateway Conference champion Mandarin battled to the District 1-7A title in St. Johns County, winning 43-41 at second-seeded Creekside (13-14).

The Mustangs (14-9) receive an automatic bid to next week's FHSAA regionals for Class 7A. Jade Spivey led the Knights with 15 points and Melissa Epting chipped in with 12.

DISTRICT 3-6A

Oakleaf made it a district three-peat, unleashing 22 points from Alabama A&M signee Kaylah Turner and 16 more from FIU-bound senior Fantasia James to win 56-21 against visiting Ponte Vedra.

Ranked second in Florida at Class 6A, Oakleaf (23-2) is assured of a home game to open the playoffs on Thursday.

Maya Richards scored 8 points to lead the Sharks (15-9), who will wait to confirm their playoff status until the FHSAA announces at-large qualifiers and final brackets on Sunday afternoon.

DISTRICT 2-5A

Ridgeview's 1,000-point pair is heading into the playoffs with a 56-42 victory over visiting Tallahassee Rickards.

Senior Paetyn Miller and junior Nia Blocton, who both joined the 1,000-point club earlier this year, helped continue the winning run for the Panthers.

DISTRICT 3-5A

White made history with its first-ever district championship in girls basketball, winning 39-35 against visiting Stanton (16-7).

The win seals the first playoff trip for the Commanders (14-10) since 2014.

DISTRICT 4-5A

Top seed Daytona Beach Mainland (16-8) stopped the district drive of St. Augustine, 47-33.

The Yellow Jackets (18-7) entered the week with the fourth-best FHSAA ranking in the region, giving them strong chances to receive an at-large berth.

DISTRICT 3-4A

Winners of 12 state championships, Ribault cruised to the district title with a 53-9 rout of a depleted Jackson (17-10).

The Trojans (14-7) march into the playoffs in search of their first state championship since 2017.

DISTRICT 4-4A

Bishop Kenny got some rare practice in playing from behind but made sure the deficit didn't last, winning 45-31 against rival Bolles (18-9).

Ranked third in the state and first in Class 4A, Bishop Kenny (26-1) came back from a 10-6 first-quarter hole and stretched its unbeaten streak against Northeast Florida opponents to 25 months. Sophia Rueppell led a balanced Crusader offense with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

DISTRICT 5-4A

North Marion held off Palatka for the district championship, winning 34-33. The Colts improve to 11-11, while Palatka drops to 10-14.

DISTRICT 2-2A

North Florida Educational Institute rolled to a district championship, winning 80-14 against Covenant School (19-5). NFEI moves into the regional tournament at 14-8.

DISTRICT 3-2A

St. Johns Country Day held off University Christian in a thriller, winning 53-52 for the school's third district championship in a 26-hour span. The Spartans (16-5) won district titles in girls and boys soccer on Thursday night.

DISTRICT 5-1A

Madison County (14-8) wrapped up the district title from the second seed, winning 46-36 against host Hilliard (19-8).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school girls basketball 2022-2023: Jacksonville district tournament