PNJ's Games to Watch: The top high school events this week
As the temperature continue to dip, the area's high school sports scene continues to heat up.
The 2021-22 boys and girls soccer seasons enter the final week of their regular season before the district playoffs. Speaking of districts, girls weightlifting begins that portion of their campaign this week. In addition to a number of intriguing matchups on the hardwood, there's plenty of items to satisfy a sports fan's appetite.
Here's a look at some of the area's best events this week:
Boys Basketball
Gulf Breeze at Jay
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
This game features several of the area's top scorers.
The Royals have been powered all season by sophomore guard Ethan McDonald, who leads the area in scoring at 23.0 points per game. Recently, the team celebrated the return of junior forward Tristan Watson. Selected to the PNJ All-Area First Team as a sophomore, Watson missed the first eight games of the season after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. In his last two games, the junior has averaged 18 points and 17.5 rebounds per game.
The Dolphins are led by Reece Bloomberg. The senior guard puts up 17.1 points per game on 44-percent shooting from the field.
Each team enters the week on a four-game winning streak.
Pensacola Catholic at Gulf Breeze
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Although losses last week to Booker T. Washington and West Florida have slowed their momentum, the Crusaders have been one of area's better teams as of late. Rebounding from a 2-7 start to the season, Catholic has won six of its last eight games. One of the team's blemishes came in a 58-46 home loss to Gulf Breeze on Dec. 17.
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Friday Roundup: Pine Forest clamps down on Pensacola in convincing performance
Pensacola at Booker T. Washington
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
These teams write another chapter of their in-city rivalry Friday night. Behind 18 points from Jordyn Buchanan and 17 from Alex Jasquith, the Wildcats defeated the Tigers 58-47 on Dec. 3. Prior to that game, Pensacola won the previous seven meetings between the two squads.
Girls Basketball
MLK Showcase at West Florida High School
When: 10 a.m. Monday
Pensacola, Pace, Navarre, Pine Forest and host West Florida take center stage during the five-game holiday event.
Pace at Milton
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Each team looks to rebound after seeing winning streaks snapped last week. The Patriots won five consecutive games before suffering a 52-47 defeat to Crestview. The Panthers dropped back-to-back close contests to Crestview and Navarre. Prior to that, Milton strung together four wins in a row.
Pace defeated the Panthers 42-35 on Dec. 17.
Navarre at Fort Walton Beach
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Two teams ranked in the state's top 25 clash during the middle of the week. The Vikings are ranked fifth in Class 6A while the Raiders are eighth. Beginning with a 50-36 win at Navarre on Dec. 17, Fort Walton Beach has won its last five games. No opponent has scored more than 36 points during that stretch. The Raiders are 4-0 in 2022.
West Florida Baptist Academy at Pensacola Christian Academy
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
The area's best small schools link up at PCA. Beginning the week with a 13-4 record, the Conquerors have won four of their last five games, including a 53-44 win against the Warriors. Pensacola Christian Academy has been victorious in its last eight contests after starting the season 2-3.
Boys Soccer
Niceville at Gulf Breeze
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Gulf Breeze looks to avenge its only defeat this season, a 4-3 loss at Niceville. The Eagles' only two losses this season have come against Fort Walton Beach, a team that the Dolphins beat 2-1 last Wednesday.
Booker T. Washington at Niceville
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Two nights after traveling to Gulf Breeze, the Eagles are host to the Wildcats. Booker T. Washington is coming off a 1-1 tie against Tate last Thursday. The Wildcats are unbeaten in their last nine matches.
Girls Soccer
West Florida at Gulf Breeze
When: 7 p.m. Monday
The Jaguars look for some magic on the anniversary of their last victory against the Dolphins. West Florida defeated Gulf Breeze 2-1 in two overtimes on Jan. 17, 2014. In the 15 matches since that meeting, the Dolphins are 14-0-1 against the Jaguars. However, the last time these teams shared the pitch last season, Gulf Breeze escaped with a 3-2 win.
Pace at Gulf Breeze
When: 7 p.m. Friday
The Patriots have won four of their last five matches. On Dec. 10, Skylar Hendricks scored two goals to lift the Dolphins past Pace 2-1. Sophomore forward Berkleigh Jernigan (13) and junior forward Ava Wheaton (9) lead the Patriots in goals this season while senior midfielder Delaney Williams (10) is Gulf Breeze's top scorer.
Booker T. Washington at Pensacola Catholic
When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie on Dec. 6. Each team lost last week to halt runs of success. The Wildcats had a three-match winning streak broken following a 2-0 defeat to Pensacola. The Crusaders were dropped 4-3 against Fort Walton Beach. Pensacola Catholic was unbeaten in their previous nine matches.
Arnold at Navarre
When: 12 p.m. Saturday
The Marlins are one of the top-scoring teams in Class 5A, pouring in 54 goals in just 13 games. Meanwhile, the Raiders have been on a scoring binge as of late. Winning six of its last seven contests, Navarre has scored three or more goals during each of those victories.
Girls Weightlifting
Districts at Booker T. Washington
11 a.m. Friday
The girls weightlifting district meets get going this season, with Booker T. Washington hosting the District 1-2A meet. It will feature Escambia, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Pine Forest, West Florida and the host Wildcats.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: PNJ's Games to Watch: Top high school events for Jan. 17-22
