The Williston boys basketball team made history in the 2023-24 season. The Red Devils became the first team in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area to win back-to-back state basketball championships since Gainesville in 1999 and 2000.

And not surprisingly, Williston led the way in selections to this year’s Bosshardt Realty All Area boys basketball team for small schools (1A and 2A).

The Red Devils have three of the five first-team selections led by senior forward/center Kyler Lamb.

Lamb, who finished second in 1A for the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball award, led the Red Devils with 16.6 points and nearly nine rebounds per game.

“One word sums up Kyler…versatile,” Williston coach Jim Ervin said. “He is one of the best players in the state and off the court he is what a student-athlete should be. He is an outstanding player and young man.”

Williston, which slipped past Chipley, 58-49, for its first state boys basketball title in 2023, was even better this season. The Red Devils finished 29-2 with their only losses to 7A Winter Haven and 4A Mater Lakes Academy (Miami). Williston hammered Chipley, 63-30, in the state semifinal in Lakeland, and then clinched its second straight title by slipping past Hilliard, 61-53. This was the Red Devils only win under double digits in the playoffs.

Joining Lamb on the All Area first team are teammates in senior guard Aramys Rodriguez and another senior guard, Reggie White.

Rodriguez averaged 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds and led Williston with 6.5 assists per contest while shooting a remarkable 73% from the floor.

“Aramys is a true point guard that controlled the game with his basketball abilities for us this year,” Ervin said. “He can score, assist and rebound on the offensive end, whatever it took to put his team in position to win.”

White was third on the Williston team in scoring with 10.5 a game and was second with 5.1 assists while adding 4.4 rebounds.

“Reggie is a complete player that brought us a winning edge every game,” Ervin said.

Another senior, forward/center Javon Brown, was selected to the second team. Brown, who signed to play football at Toledo, averaged 9.2 points a game and finished second on the team with 7.1 rebounds a game while leading Williston in dunks.

“Javon is one of the best athletes I have ever coached,” Ervin said. “He is a great young man with a bright future.”

Representing Hawthorne is the now two-time Florida Dairy Farmers 1A Player of the Year in junior C.J. Ingram.

Despite the Hornets (16-5) not making it back to Lakeland and being upset by Fort White, 56-51, in the Region 3-1A Semifinal, Hawthorne once again won the District 7-1A championship.

Ingram topped Hawthorne in all offensive categories, averaging 24 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 steals per game. He also led the Hornets with 1.9 blocks per contest.

“What C.J. does on the court is nothing short of remarkable,” Hawthorne coach Greg Bowie said. “To be hailed as one of the finest players in the area speaks volumes about his talent and dedication to the game.

“What sets C.J. apart is not just his impressive scoring average of 24 points per game, but the resilience he exhibits in the face of relentless defensive pressure. Double teams, triple teams, and the box-and-one defense are challenges that would deter many players, yet C.J. embraces them.”

The final member of the first team is Oak Hall senior forward/center Andrew Powell. Powell averaged 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as the Eagles finished 17-6, won the District 4-2A title and advanced to the 2A playoffs.

“Congratulations to Andrew, he is very deserving,” said former Oak Hall coach Monte Towe, who retired after the season. “He is one of the best shooters in the state and has been very consistent as a four-year starter for Oak Hall. Andrew provided great leadership, worked hard in practice, and improved his rebounding and ball handling. Andrew was a major reason for the success of the Oak Hall basketball team during his four years.”

Joining Brown on the second team are two Fort White players, sophomore guard Jayden Jackson and junior guard/forward Tafari Moe.

Fort White ended up 17-7 and upset Hawthorne on the road in the opening round of the 1A playoffs but came up just one game short of the first state semifinal appearance in school history as the Indians lost, 64-51, to eventual 1A state runner-up Hilliard.

Moe led Fort White in scoring, averaging 16.3 points a game, and was second on the team in rebounding with 5.6 rebounds per contest.

“Tafari has been the most determined and focused kid I have ever coached,” Fort White coach Elven Sheppard said. “He has been a starter for me since his freshman year and has worked and developed himself into one of the toughest two-way guards in the area. With his blend of size, speed, ability, and toughness he became a force for us on both ends of the floor. Moe was a critical piece in helping us reach our first regional final in program history.”

Jackson was second for the Indians in scoring averaging 13.6 points per game and added two rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

“Jayden is a super talented two-way point guard,” Sheppard said. “He has another gear that most guys don’t have. His relentless ability to attack the basket make him a force in transition and huge weapon for our team. He is also a great kid with an infectious personality. I love coaching him and watching him play. He is a great teammate, and his peers would agree.”

Capping off the second team is Newberry sophomore guard Henry Mathias and Chiefland junior forward/center Reggie Adams.

Mathias just missed leading the Panthers in scoring, averaging 14 points a game for a Newberry team that finished 15-9, lost the district title to Hawthorne by two points in overtime, and then dropped a 68-67 heartbreaker at eventual 1A state runner-up Hilliard in the Region 3-1A Semifinals.

“Henry is the type of player that embraces everything about ‘the process’ of playing basketball,” Newberry coach Patrick Green said. “He was a first-year varsity player but quickly earned the respect of his coaches and teammates. What he lacks in size and experience is compensated for with an incredible work ethic and willingness to learn. Henry has a very bright future, and I am proud to be part of his journey.”

Adams averaged a double-double with 14.2 points and nearly 11 rebounds a game as Chiefland advanced to the 1A playoffs but dropped a Region 4-1A Semifinal matchup at home to Trenton.

“Reggie made a big leap from his sophomore year to his junior year,” Chiefland coach Adam Boyd said. “He was more aggressive on the offensive end this year and was huge for us on the offensive glass. That was the main reason he led our team in scoring and rebounding.”

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (1A/2A) (1st Team)

G – Aramys Rodriguez, Williston (Senior)

G – Reggie White, Williston (Senior)

G/F – C.J. Ingram, Hawthorne (Junior)

F/C – Kyler Lamb, Williston (Senior)

F/C – Andrew Powell, Oak Hall (Senior)

BOYS – SMALL SCHOOL (1A/2A) (2nd Team)

G – Jayden Jackson, Fort White (Sophomore)

G – Henry Mathias, Newberry (Sophomore)

G/F – Tafari Moe, Fort White (Junior)

F/C – Reggie Adams, Chiefland (Junior)

F/C – Javon Brown, Williston (Senior)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Branford – Eiston Mikell (Sr.), Camden Gaskins (Sr.), Austin Humphries (Sr.), Tucker Floyd (Jr.)

Bronson – Justice Phillips (So.)

Chiefland – Jon Adams (So.)

Dixie County – Kade McCaskill (Sr.), Carter Hodge (Sr.)

Fort White – Brandon DeMartino (Sr.), Garrett Brady (Sr.)

Hawthorne – Caleb Rollerson (Sr.), Decarion Debose (Jr.), Leland Johnson (Jr.)

Newberry– Logan McCloud (Jr.), Juwan Scippio (So.), Kaleb Woods (So.)

Oak Hall– Jackson Beach (Sr.)

St. Francis Catholic Academy – Jonah Powers (Fr.), William Collett (Jr.), Brett Thomas (So.)

Trenton – Mason VunCannon (Fr.), Nathan Ridgell (So.), Kendal Henry (Jr.), Clark Hausner (Jr.)

Union County – Gavin Jenkins (Jr.), Thomas Williams (Sr.), Jayden Jenkins (Sr.), Johnte Nichols (Sr.)

Williston – Deandre Harvey (So.)