Two local boys basketball teams advanced to the Rural state semifinals at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville in late February. Williston was looking for its third state title in four years, while Trenton advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Williston knocked off Trenton to advance back to the state championship game, where they lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Crossroad Academy (Quincy).

The Red Devils and Tigers dominate the 2025-26 Bosshardt Realty All Area small school team (Rural-2A).

The Red Devils were led by senior point guard/guard Traeston Armstrong. Armstrong averaged a team-high 16.2 points a game, adding three rebounds and nearly two assists per game. Armstrong also had a game-high 20 points in the state championship game.

“Trae Armstrong was a player that hit big shots for us all season long and in his final game as a senior played great,” Williston coach Jim Ervin said.

The other Williston representative on the first team is junior forward Jaden Magee. Magee scored 10.2 points a game and led the Red Devils in rebounding, averaging nearly nine boards a contest. He saved his best game of the season for the state semifinal win over Trenton, with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds.

“Jaden is one of the area’s most powerful players,” Ervin said. “I’m excited to see what he’s going to do in his senior year.”

Trenton matches Williston with two first-team members. Junior forward/center Mason VunCannon led the Tigers with 16.7 points and was second with 6.1 rebounds. He also averaged nearly three assists and 1.5 steals.

“In my opinion, Mason VunCannon is the best player in the greater Gainesville area regardless of class, and the best player in the state’s Rural class,” Trenton coach Eric Bullis said. “He is a player who stuffs the stat sheet, averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. He elevated his game to an even higher level as a junior, becoming a true three-level scorer who can score on the perimeter, in the mid-range, and at the basket. He is also an unselfish player who could easily average over 20 points per game, but takes pride in making the extra pass and helping his teammates succeed and score.  He was voted team captain in the preseason and performed very well in that role.

“Off the court, he is a 4.77 GPA student currently ranked #1 in his class academically. He is also an officer in the school’s FFA chapter and a student leader in Trenton’s FCA chapter. During the season, he eclipsed the 1000-point and 500-rebound marks, simply outstanding.  We are super proud of his season and look forward to his senior season and beyond.”

Another junior, Tyler Bullis, joins his teammate VunCannon on the first team. Tyler Bullis averaged nearly 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game for the Tigers.

“Tyler had a tremendous junior season. He stepped into the starting PG role replacing a 3-year starter and thrived after starting and playing mostly off the ball as a sophomore,” Eric Bullis said. “He was voted team captain in the preseason and performed very well in that role. On the court, he averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game. Additionally, he provided high-level ball-handling, passing and decision-making, and 3-point shooting. His high level of play and leadership helped lead us to the first final four in school history, breaking school records along the way for wins, ranking, rating, strength of schedule, points per possession, and many others.”

The final member of the Small School Boys Basketball All Area first team is P.K. Yonge freshman guard/forward Jayden Harriott. Harriott was second on the Blue Wave in scoring with close to 13 points a game and added four rebounds, two assists and two steals per game while leading P.K. Yonge to a district title and the second round of the 2A playoffs.

“We put a lot on Jayden’s shoulders as a freshman and he handled it well.” P.K. Yonge coach Willie Powers III said. “He played through a pretty bad knee injury the second half of the season, but was still consistent for us. I expect him to take a huge leap going into his sophomore season.”

The second team is led by Williston sophomore guard Jacques “Jac” Edwards, Jr. Edwards was second in scoring for the Red Devils with 11.7 points per game and nearly three assists a game. He also just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds in the state semifinal win over Trenton.

“Jac Edwards emerged as our leader on and off the court and is one of the best three-point shooters in the area,” Ervin said.

Joining Edwards on the second team is junior guard Decedric Sowell of P.K. Yonge. Sowell was the Blue Wave’s leading scorer with 13.2 points per game, adding 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest.

“Decedric had about a five-game run versus top area competition this season, where he was playing better than anybody.” Powers said. “When he’s locked in, there’s not much he can’t do on the court. He has another level he can take it to and I’m excited to see that in his senior season.”

Florida Dairy Farmers’ Rural Player of the Year, Branford senior guard Anthony Washington, also made the second team. The Bucs missed the playoffs with a 12-14 record, but Washington led the area in scoring, averaging nearly 25 points a game, and also added 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.2 assists per contest.

Chiefland missed the Rural playoffs with a 12-9 record. But the Indians are represented on the second team by Louisville football signee senior forward/center Jon Adams, who averaged 17.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and one block per game.

“Jon has been a leader on our team for several years and has been on the varsity team since the seventh grade,” Chiefland coach Adam Boyd said. “He has grown and matured as a basketball player and a young man over that time. Jon broke his foot last year during football season and I think it had a profound effect on him.  I think he learned that he can’t take things for granted and realized what was important to him.

“Jon had a great season for us this year. He led us in points and rebounds on a team that had a lot of young players in key positions. Jon was the engine of our team. He is a young man with natural gifts that you can’t teach, but he’s learned that it is the little things that are going to make him successful.”

Despite a 13-11 record, Oak Hall missed the 2A playoffs in the 2025-26 season. But the Eagles are still represented on the small school second team by sophomore Max Whitmer. Whitmer averaged 19 points a game to lead Oak Hall and added four rebounds and four assists.

“Max had a great season and was District Player of the Year,” Oak Hall coach Che Roth said. “Max is an elite shooter and he showed his improvements with his ability to put the ball on the floor and create for his teammates. He has great work ethic to match his fire as a competitor.”

2025-2026 Bosshardt Realty All Area Basketball

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (Rural-2A) (1st Team)

PG/G – Traeston Armstrong, Williston (SR)

G – Tyler Bullis, Trenton (JR)

G/F – Jayden Harriott, P.K. Yonge (FR)

F – Jaden Magee, Williston (JR)

F/C – Mason VunCannon, Trenton (JR)

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (Rural-2A) (2nd Team)

PG/G – Max Whitmer, Oak Hall (SO)

G – Anthony Washington, Branford (SR)

G – Jacques “Jac” Edwards Jr., Williston (SO)

G – Decedric Sowell, P.K. Yonge (JR)

F/C – Jon Adams, Chiefland (SR)

Honorable mention:

Branford – Anthony Bailey (SR)

Bronson – Trey Tucker (FR)

Countryside Christian – Levi Watson (JR), Connor Vlaardingerbroek (SR)

Fort White – Desean Lally (JR)

Hawthorne – Nathan Jennings (JR), Dominick Harvey (JR), Shawn Bowie (SO), Darian Bowie (SR)

Oak Hall – Correy Brooks (SO), Eli Medved (FR)

P.K. Yonge – Eugene Hall (JR), Tray-Sean Jones (FR)

Saint Francis Catholic Academy – Jonah Powers (JR), Liam Banks (SR)

Trenton – Nathan Ridgell (SR), Marc Micale (JR)

Union County (Lake Butler) – Garrison Smith (SO), Tyrese Chandler (SO), Adrian Manns (SO)

Williston – Treston Jones (SO), Kyson Chever (FR)

Stats and/or coach nominations were not available for Bell or Dixie County (Cross City).