High School Girls Basketball: District Championship Title Games Set

District tournaments for Central Florida high school girls basketball are in championship mode. Gainesville area schools have done well for themselves in tournament play, with a slate of championship games set for Saturday.

Here’s a look at the updated brackets:

Gainesville

The Gainesville Hurricanes (12-8) have moved on to the 5A-District 2 championship game after dismantling Tallahassee Leon, 67-23, on Thursday. The 44-point win is Gainesville’s largest margin of victory this season. The top seed Hurricanes can finish undefeated in district play with a tournament win on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. against host second seed Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans (15-8), who are also undefeated in district matchups.

Buchholz

The Buchholz Bobcats have been eliminated from the 6A-District 3 tournament, 56-30. Top seed Tocoi Creek ended the Bobcats’ three-game winning streak to move on to the finals. It’s the end of a disappointing 9-13 season for Buchholz.

Eastside

The Eastside Rams handled business in Thursday’s 4A-District 5 semifinal round. They took down North Marion 60-42.

The Girls Basketball team (11-10) defeats North Marion, 62-40, to advance to Saturday’s District title game at top-seed Dunnellon. pic.twitter.com/xAc6tovPp1

— Eastside High School Athletics (@RowdyEHSRams) February 7, 2025

The Rams (11-10) battle the top seed host Dunnellon Tigers (12-10) for a district title Saturday.

P.K. Yonge vs Oak Hall

The P.K Yonge Blue Wave (6-19) pulled off an upset against Oak Hall (10-6) in the 2A-District 2 semifinals Thursday. Oak Hall came into the tournament winning three of its last four, but lost when it mattered most. A narrow 21-20 victory puts a six-win team in the district finals, where P.K. Yonge will face Trinity Catholic (16-9) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Ocala.

Saint Francis Catholic

Not much was expected of the Wolves (3-16) in their matchup against top seed Trinity Catholic. The low bar got even lower, with Saint Francis falling 89-13 to the Celtics in the 2A-District 2 tournament. The 75-point margin is the biggest loss for Saint Francis this season, ending its year on a sour note.

Newberry

The Newberry Panthers eliminated the Baldwin Indians from the 3A-District 3 tournament, 65-26, on Wednesday. The top-seeded Panthers (15-6) now play the Bradford Tornadoes (13-7) in the district championship Saturday in Newberry.

Hawthorne

The Hawthorne Hornets were eliminated from the Class Rural District 7 tournament after losing to the second seed Williston Red Devils in the semifinals Thursday.

Final: Williston 57, Hawthorne 44. Red Devils pull away in final quarter and advance to Saturday’s District 7-1R title game.

— Nick Anschultz (@Nick_A_98) February 7, 2025

The 57-44 defeat gave the Hornets (12-4) their first district loss at the worst possible time. The Red Devils (18-2) advance to play at top seed Wildwood (20-0) in the 7 p.m. final Saturday.

District champions and at-large teams will compete in the state regional playoffs starting next week.