MIDDLEBURG – Coming into the January 6 matchup between the Middleburg High Broncos and the visiting Oakleaf High Knights, Middleburg had to do one thing: continue to build on what they accomplished so far this year.
For Oakleaf, with a tournament title in hand from a St. Augustine Christmas event, the game would be a springboard into a final push to get to the top of district 4-8A.

District 4-8A
Creekside (13-2, 4-0)
Buchholz (6-7, 2-2)
Fleming Island (11-9, 2-3)
Oakleaf (9-6, 1-2)
Bartram Trail (9-5, 1-3)

Key district games: Tues., Jan. 10 Oakleaf at Bartram Trail, Buchholz at Creekside, Oakleaf at Fleming Island Jan. 13, Oakleaf at Buchholz Jan. 17, Bartram Trail at Oakleaf Jan. 24, Creekside at Oakleaf Jan. 27
In this last month of the season, Oakleaf has nine games remaining with five of those in district play. Right now, because they only won one of the three district games played so far, Oakleaf is at the bottom of the standings, looking up. Early season losses to Creekside and Buchholz could prove disastrous come district time, but the Knights control their own destiny with five district games still on the docket.
Fleming Island, with a Friday loss to Creekside, is still in the hunt as well with their own district slate filled to the brim with consecutive games against Buchholz, Oakleaf and Bartram Trail Jan. 12, 13 and 17.
With only one win, Middleburg knew they were close to getting to the next level as they had multiple games where those losses were within five points or less. Oakleaf with its stacked bench was no match though as the Broncos went down in defeat 70-42.
“We’ve won seven of our last eight games and we’ve really played well as a group, we won the St. Augustine Tournament, and we want to carry that into the second half of the season,” said Oakleaf High coach Jason Price. “We’ve won seven of our last eight games and we’ve really played well as a group, we won the St. Augustine Tournament, and we want to carry that into the second half of the season.”
It didn’t start out all Oakleaf as both teams ran the court and could not sink a basket for the first minute and 45 seconds. Middleburg broke the ice with a layup and that would be the last time the Broncos could say they had the lead.


At the end of the first, Oakleaf built an 18-9 lead.
In the second quarter, with about five minutes left on the clock, the Knights put up a barrage of baskets that were the result of Middleburg missed shot rebounds. Oakleaf outscored Middleburg 21-11 in the quarter and headed to the locker room with a 39-20 lead. By the half, every Oakleaf player on the roster, except one, scored points. Coming out of the break, the third quarter was more of the same with Oakleaf again outscoring the Broncos by 200%, 17-8.
In the final quarter, Middleburg began to move the ball and better positioned players under the basket to pick up rebounds from missed shots. Even with the improvement and Oakleaf sitting their starters, the Broncos were still outscored 16-12.
Middleburg has 12 games remaining of which four are conference. If they can fix their rebound issues, they could still find their way into the playoffs. As Bronco Head Coach Travis Tipton said, “They just have to be more of a family.”