The Williston Red Devils girls basketball team advanced to the Rural state semifinals for the first time in school history this season and decided to win the whole thing as well.

Williston captured the state title by beating Jay, 66-49, at the University of North Florida Arena in Jacksonville on Feb. 27.

Not surprisingly, the Red Devils dominate the Bosshardt Realty All Area small school team (Rural-2A) for the 2025-26 season.

In his second season at the helm of the Red Devils, head coach Willie Powers led Williston to its first state title after two previous state championships while head coach at P.K. Yonge.

Williston has three members of the first team and one second team representative on the team. The Red Devils were led by senior Ashlyn Young.

Young, who finished third in voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year, led Williston with 13 points a game, 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.8 steals per game despite missing the last month of the regular season. But she returned for the playoffs, scoring 20 points in the 61-52 win over Wildwood in the Rural-Region 4 final, and added 15 in the state championship game win.

“Ashlyn Young was our leader whose numbers did not show what she did and meant to her team,” Powers said. “Ashlyn gave up big stats to get big wins and lead her team to their first state championship.”

Sophomore Kierce Solomon was also huge for the Red Devils, saving her biggest game for the state title win over Jay. The younger sister of former Williston football standout and Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champion Quinyon Mitchell was 7-of-9 from 3-point land and had a career high 27 points to help pull the Red Devils away for the win.

“Kierce Solomon is probably one of the best scorers in girls basketball in this area,” Powers said. “She knows how to put the ball in the basket. We are beginning to call her Big Game Kierce because she always seems to come through for her team in the big game.”

The third Williston representative on the first team is freshman power forward Janiyah Span. Span was second in scoring for Williston with 11.2 points per game, and second in rebounding with 5.4 boards per contest.

“Janiyan Span had a great freshman year and made a lot of key baskets to help her team be successful,” Powers said. “Janiyah has shown in big games that she is a driving force for the Red Devils.”

Williston’s second team representative is junior Tiona Wilkinson. Wilkinson led Williston in rebounding with 6.8 per game and scored nearly ten points a game as well.

“Tiona Wilkinson is one of the most underrated players in the area,” Powers said. “She is a force down low and really rebounds the ball with the best of them. Tiona will be very hard to contain in the post next year.”

The only other rural girls basketball team to advance past the first round of the regional playoffs was the Fort White Indians. Fort White defeated Madison County 70-24 in the opening round before dropping the Rurai-Region 3 final 56-37 at Hilliard.

The other two members of the first team come from Fort White. Junior Jahlaya Wilson led the Indians in scoring and rebounding, nearly averaging a double-double with 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a game.

“Jahlaya is an extremely dynamic player who brings versatility and toughness to our lineup,” Fort White coach Bregay Harris said. “She has a great feel for the game and can contribute in multiple ways—scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking. Her willingness to learn and get better is one of her biggest assets.”

Joining Wilson from Fort White as the final first-team choice is junior guard Ya’Zuri Hollie. Hollie was second on the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game and added 2.8 rebounds per contest.

“Ya’Zuri has been a consistent leader for us all season,” Harris said. “Her ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor sets her apart—she scores efficiently, defends at a high level, and brings great energy every night. Beyond her talent, her basketball IQ and unselfishness make everyone around her better.”

Fort White is also represented on the second team by senior guard Mariah Cox. Cox also scored in double figures with nearly 11 points a game, adding nearly four rebounds and three steals per game as well.

“Mariah has shown tremendous growth this season and has become a key contributor for us,” Harris said. “She plays with confidence and composure, and her ability to step up in important moments has been huge. Her dedication to improving her game has really paid off.”

Junior guard/forward Nyasia Bivins led Chiefland to a 22-4 record and playoff appearance in the Rural Class, where they were eliminated in the opening round at Wildwood. Bivins, who finished second in voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers Rural Player of the Year,  was one of the area’s leading scorers, averaging 22.8 points a game, and added 9.5 rebounds and 4.8 steals per game.

The final two members of the Small School All Area Girls Basketball squad are junior forward Allie Dey of Saint Francis Catholic Academy and senior forward/center Amarhae Hopkins of Hawthorne.

Dey led Saint Francis to a 12-5 record while averaging 10.5 rebounds and 4 blocks per game to go along with nearly nine points per contest. 

Despite an 8-13 record in coach Shereka Jackson’s first season with the Hornets, Hopkins was a bright spot, averaging a double-double with 14 points and 13.6 rebounds per game.

2025-2026 Bosshardt Realty All Area Basketball

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

PG/G – Ashlyn Young, Williston (SR)

G – Ya’Zuri Hollie, Fort White (JR)

G – Kierce Solomon, Williston (SO)

G/F – Janiyah Span, Williston (FR)

F/C Jahlaya Wilson, Fort White (JR)

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

G – Mariah Cox, Fort White (SR)

G/F – Nyasia Bivins, Chiefland (JR)

F – Allie Dey, Saint Francis Catholic Academy (SR)

F/C – Tiona Wilkinson, Williston (JR)

F/C – Amarhae Hopkins, Hawthorne (SR)

Honorable mention

Bell – Cheyenne Arban (FR)

Branford – Amyah James (SO), Synniah Watkins (JR)

Bronson – Andrea Schuler (JR), Makenna Dean (SO)

Chiefland – Laila Ingram (SR), Brianna Bell (SR)

Dixie County (Cross City) – Jakayla Henderson (JR), Ka’mille Barnes (JR)

Hawthorne – Brooklynn Gillins (FR), Raylen Cue (8^th)

P.K. Yonge – Nyah Smith (FR)             

Saint Francis Catholic Academy – Sarah Deane (FR), O.J. Williams (FR)

Trenton – Kayley Sloan (SR), Zynari Flanders (SO)

Williston – Baylee Cribbs (SR), Delecia Dallas (JR)

Stats and/or coach nominations were not available for Countryside Christian or Oak Hall.