ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High girls basketball has unleashed the Blocton aura on to the 2023 season and the result has been a strong presence in the district 2-5A lineup that opens Tuesday with the Lady Panthers as top seed.

With sisters Nia, Nacoya and Narissa Blocton confusing opponent defenses with the look-alike attacks on the boards and in the paint, Ridgeview coach Tyler Miller has groomed his counter attack to include swift outside shooting from Paetyn Miller and Emma Rayes with just enough defense from his bench; Esperanza Gallegos and Aniyah Campbell, to give those who dare a test of up tempo basketball with an occasional elbow to the face.

The challengers look to be either Rickards or Baker County with the Baker County inner lineup muscles enough to maybe battle the Blocton strength underneath.

That being said, Baker County already got bombed by Ridgeview and the only blip on the screen for Miller tough losses to Oakleaf and St. Johns Country School with sharpshooter Taliah Scott going crazy with 37 of the Spartans 67-59 win. Fortunately, Scott is in 2A, but the blueprint of a speedy shooting format might be the challenge to the Panthers burly defenders.

Rickards, on the other hand, is packed and loaded with just a 14-10 record, but 10 losses to highly talented teams; 21-1 Rutherford, 13-3 P.K. Yonge and 18-6 Central Florida Academy so they will come ready to rock.

Middleburg has been active lately and coach Lindsey Burghart is a tough defensive coach so the Broncos could surprise. Clay has the basketball guru Doug Deters on the sideline and he is basketball crafty.

Being number one seed gives Ridgeview home gym and that's a good place for the Panthers.

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