FHSAA Release First Playoff Points Standings

     The Florida High School Athletic Association released their first ever average points system standings of South Florida schools for the upcoming 2017 playoffs. The FHSAA changed the parameters to determine playoff teams this year by eliminating district runner-up schools that once automatically qualified.
     Class 8A down to Class 5A have district champion qualify automatically for the postseason. Four other schools in each region represent the top four wild-card teams.
     Two regions in Class 8A is compiled of South Florida schools. Region 3 seeds from Broward and Palm Beach County included in ranked order Seminole Ridge(40.5), Miramar(39), Atlantic(39), Deerfield Beach(37.25), Palm Beach Central(40), Plantation(38.8), Western(38.8) and Palm Beach Gardens(34). Three schools appeared from District 9 and District 12.
     Region 4 of Class 8A consists of Dade County schools. The playoff ranking had South Dade(42.75), Columbus(41.4), North Miami Beach(36.67), Belen Jesuit(36), Palmetto(38.5), Miami(37.8), Homestead(37) and Hialeah(36).
     Class 7A had the defending three-time state champion St. Thomas Aquinas(District 14) as the top seed in Region 4 with 41 points. Two teams from District 13 were represented with Forest Hill ranked fourth with 39 points and Dwyer at fifth with 37.4 points. District 15 had Nova with 39.5 points in third while West Broward entered sixth at 37 points. Three schools are represented from District 16 as Doral Academy finished in second with 40.2 points, Miami Springs in seventh with 36 points and Mater Academy with 34.8 points at the eighth spot.
     District 16 in Class 6A may benefit the most from the biggest change of the playoff format and take advantage of the new points system. Miami Northwestern leads what might be the toughest district to play in South Florida with 41.75 points and is rated as the top seed in Region 4. They have three other schools in the district not in first place that qualified for a wild-card position. Miami Central ranked fifth with 40.33 points, defending state champion Carol City ranked seventh with 35.75 points and Norland ranked eighth with 34 points. Dillard was the only other local team to qualify as they lead District 15 with 32.4 points and ranked as a fourth seed.
     Class 5A has three schools in District 16 who are eligible. Cardinal Gibbons is the district leader and the top seed in Region 4 with 44.75 points. The defending state champion American Heritage-Plantation has 44.67 points which ranks fifth while Coconut Creek is seventh with 37.67 points. Only one team would qualify in District 15 as both Suncoast and Fort Pierce Westwood are tied for first place in that district with 33.6 points.
     Class 4A through Class 1A no longer have district champions and the four best teams from each region qualify for the playoffs. The top four seeds of Class 4A in Region 4 are Key West(44), University School(42.67), Booker T. Washington(37.17) and Gulliver Prep (37). Looking from the outside are Monsignor Pace(37) and Glades Central(34.75).
     Region 4 in Class 3A has a top four ranking of Chaminade-Madonna(37.25), Everglades Prep(36),  St. Andrew's(35) and American Heritage-Delray(34). Teams on the outside include St. John Paul II(32.75), Calvary Christian(32) and Benjamin(31.25).
     Champagnat is the leader in Class 2A of Region 4 with 40.8 points. Pahokee is the only Class 1A local school in contention as they are in the fourth spot of Region 4 with 36.3 points.