The girls and boys high school basketball regular seasons officially came to an end this past weekend.

District tournament play begins today for the boys and tomorrow for the girls.

Although it’s not March yet, the ultimate prize for members of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is to be crowned a girls or boys state champion in March.

All this week a total of 48 girls and boys basketball teams will be vying for a district title in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area. The winner of each district tournament receives an automatic FHSAA bid to next week’s regional tournaments which begin on Wednesday, Feb. 12 (boys), and Thursday, Feb. 13 (girls).

For everyone, it’s “win and you’re in,” knowing that a spot in the state playoffs also comes with some hardware, but for most teams, it’s a “must-win” to extend the season.

Let the madness begin.

Two teams from the area will be defending their state title.

In fact, the Hawthorne girls and the Williston boys are coming off back-to-back state titles and are seeking a three-peat this year.

But it won’t be easy as Williston and Hawthorne are in an elite district (Rural Class District 7), both girls and boys.

Both defending champs will be in action starting on Tuesday.

The two-time defending state champion and No. 3 seed Hawthorne girls (11-3) are hosting No. 6 Cedar Key (4-15) at 7 p.m. in the Rural Class District 7 tournament semifinals, while No. 4 seed Chiefland (18-5) hosts No. 5 Bronson (11-8) in the other semifinal.

The winner of the Hawthorne game will face No. 2 seed Williston in Thursday’s district semifinals. The game will be broadcast online at Mainstreet Daily News (audio only beginning at 6:45 p.m.).

Hawthorne is once again playing its best basketball at the end of the season with six straight wins which includes bigger schools 4A Eastside, 4A North Marion (Citra), 6A Buchholz and 5A Vanguard (Ocala).

The Lady Hornets (11-3) are ranked No. 5 in the Rural classification and 79th overall in Florida.

Williston is not only the No. 2 seed in the tournament, but they’re also ranked second in the state in the Rural classification behind top-ranked Wildwood.

Former P.K. Yonge girls basketball coach Willie Powers is in his first season with the Lady Red Devils (17-2), who haven’t lost in 2025. They are ranked No. 11 overall in Florida.

Making that district even tougher is that the winner of a potential Williston-Hawthorne matchup would likely have to go on the road to Wildwood on Saturday night to win the district title.

Wildwood went undefeated during the regular season, including a 54-50 win at Class 5A GHS last Tuesday to sweep the two-game series. They play the Chiefland/Bronson winner in the other semifinal on Thursday.

The Wildcats (19-0), who are ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 6 overall in Florida in the final FHSAA rankings, lost to Hawthorne in last year’s state semifinals and could get a rematch against the Hornets on Saturday night.

It’s likely that the district champion, or district runner-up, will get to the final four and have a shot at a state title in girls basketball for the Rural class.

You could say the same thing for the boys tournament.

Rural Class District 7 is arguably the toughest district in the state for both boys and girls basketball among all classes this season.

The Williston boys, who won their second straight Class 1A title last year, have been No. 1 for most of the year but fell to second in the final FHSAA Rural classification rankings.

The Red Devils (13-11) are the No. 2 seed in the Rural Class District 7 tournament and will host either No. 3 Wildwood (19-6), which is ranked seventh in the state in the Rural class, or No. 6 seed Cedar Key (9-12) in Wednesday’s district semifinals.

Top seed Hawthorne is ranked No. 1 overall in the Rural classification.

The Hornets (15-2), who have won seven in a row, will play either No. 4 seed Chiefland or No. 5 seed Bronson in the other district semifinal on Wednesday.

Hawthorne is hoping for a rematch in the district championship on Friday against Williston, who defeated Hawthorne, 66-54, in Williston on Jan. 17. This time the game would be in the Hornets’ nest.

Outside of Rural-District 7, one of the more interesting girls’ tournaments is 4A-District 5 where Dunnellon, Eastside, and North Marion are ranked sixth through eighth, respectively, in 4A-Region 2.

The top eight teams from the region make the regional tournament but how they fare in the district tournament could determine not only a postseason bid but also a potential home playoff game.

North Marion (12-13) is the No. 3 seed in 4A-District 5 and will host No. 6 seed Lake Weir (Ocala) (0-15) on Tuesday, while No. 2 seed Eastside (10-10) hosts the winner in the district semifinals on Thursday night.

Top seed Dunnellon (11-10) awaits No. 5 Santa Fe or No. 4 Crystal River (7-12) in the other semifinal.

Another key district tournament to keep your eye on in boys play is in 5A-District 2 where four of the top eight teams in 5A-Region 1 are competing in the tournament.

GHS (18-7) is the top seed. The Hurricanes, who are currently second in the region, will host either No. 4 seed Lincoln or No. 5 seed Chiles (Tallahassee) (12-12) in Wednesday’s district semifinals.

Columbia (Lake City) is the No. 3 seed and will travel to No. 2 seed Leon (Tallahassee) in the other district semifinal.

Leon (17-6) is currently fourth in the region while the Tigers (16-9), winners of three in a row, are ranked sixth. Lincoln (15-7) is currently seeded No. 8 in 5A-Region 1.

Also a big shoutout to the Newberry boys basketball team, which defeated P.K. Yonge, 72-34, last week to finish the regular season unbeaten at 21-0.

The Panthers, who are the No. 1 seed in Class 3A-District 3, will host either No. 4 seed Interlachen (11-13) or No. 5 seed Baldwin (6-13) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the district semifinals. Newberry is seeking its first district championship in boys basketball since 2004.

Meanwhile, the Lady Panthers (14-6), who boast two 1,000-point scorers in senior Sarah Beaulieu and junior Brandy Whitfield, will try and win their first district title since 2012.

All boys basketball district championship games will be played this Friday night. The girls will play their district championship games on Saturday night.

Girls Basketball

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)

Dates & times are subject to change

Rural Class-District 5 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Hamilton County (Jasper) at 4 Branford, 6 p.m.

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 Hamilton County/4 Branford winner at 1 Hilliard
3 Lafayette (Mayo) at 2 Madison County

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Rural Class-District 6 at Trenton

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
4 Bell vs. 5 Union County (Lake Butler), 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
1 Fort White vs. 4 Bell/5 Union County winner
3 Dixie County (Cross City) at 2 Trenton

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Rural Class-District 7 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Bronson at 4 Chiefland
6 Cedar Key at 3 Hawthorne, 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 Bronson/4 Chiefland winner at 1 Wildwood
6 Cedar Key/3 Hawthorne winner at 2 Williston

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 1A-District 4 at St. John Lutheran (Ocala)

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
1 Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) at 4 St. John Lutheran (Ocala)
2 Countryside Christian vs. 3 Redeemer Christian (Ocala)

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 2A-District 2 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) at 4 St. Francis Catholic Academy, 5 p.m.

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 St. Joseph Academy/4 St. Francis Catholic Academy winner at 1 Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
3 P.K. Yonge at 2 Oak Hall

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 3A-District 2 at Florida High (Tallahassee)

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
4 Suwannee (Live Oak) vs. 5 Taylor County (Perry)

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
4 Suwannee (Live Oak)/5 Taylor County (Perry) winner at 1 Florida High (Tallahassee)
2 Gadsden County (Havana) vs. 3 Marianna

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 3A-District 3 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Keystone Heights at 4 Baldwin

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 Keystone Heights/4 Baldwin winner at 1 Newberry
3 Palatka at 2 Bradford (Starke)

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 4A-District 5 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Santa Fe (Alachua) at 4 Crystal River, 6 p.m.
6 Lake Weir (Ocala) at 3 North Marion (Citra)

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 Santa Fe (Alachua)/4 Crystal River winner at 1 Dunnellon
6 Lake Weir (Ocala)/3 North Marion (Citra) winner at 2 Eastside

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 5A-District 2 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Chiles (Tallahassee) at 4 Leon (Tallahassee)

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
5 Chiles (Tallahassee)/4 Leon (Tallahassee) winner at 1 Gainesville
3 Columbia (Lake City) at 2 Lincoln (Tallahassee), 7 p.m.

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Class 6A-District 3 at Bartram Trail (St. Johns) – Semifinals & Championship

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 4
5 Matanzas (Palm Coast) at 4 Buchholz, 6:30 p.m.

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 6
1 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) vs. 5 Matanzas/4 Buchholz winner
3 Forest (Ocala) at 2 Bartram Trail (St. Johns)

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 8
TBD

Boys Basketball

Rural Class-District 5 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Hamilton County (Jasper) at 4 Lafayette (Mayo)

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Hamilton County/4 Lafayette winner at 1 Hilliard
3 Branford at 2 Madison County

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Rural Class-District 6 at Bell

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 4
4 Bell vs. 5 Dixie County (Cross City)

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 6
1 Fort White vs. 4 Bell/5 Dixie County winner
2 Trenton vs. 3 Union County (Lake Butler), 5:30 p.m.

Championship – Friday, Feb. 8
TBD

Rural Class-District 7 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Bronson at 4 Chiefland
6 Cedar Key at 3 Wildwood, 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Bronson/4 Chiefland winner at 1 Hawthorne
6 Cedar Key/3 Wildwood winner at 2 Williston

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 1A-District 4 at Meadowbrook Academy (Ocala)

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Countryside Christian vs. 4 Redeemer Christian (Ocala)

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Countryside Christian/4 Redeemer Christian winner at 1 Meadowbrook Academy (Ocala)
2 Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) vs. 3 St. John Lutheran (Ocala), 5 p.m.

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 2A-District 2 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Oak Hall at 4 St. Francis Catholic Academy, 6 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Oak Hall/4 St. Francis Catholic Academy winner at 1 P.K. Yonge
3 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) at 2 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine)

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 3A-District 2 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Taylor County (Perry) at 4 Suwannee (Live Oak)

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
4 Suwannee/5 Taylor County winner at 1 Florida High (Tallahassee)
3 Gadsden County (Havana) at 2 Marianna

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 3A-District 3 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Baldwin at 4 Interlachen, 6 p.m.
6 Keystone Heights at 3 Palatka

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Baldwin/4 Interlachen winner at 1 Newberry, 6 p.m.
6 Keystone Heights/3 Palatka winner at 2 Bradford (Starke)

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD, 7 p.m.

Class 4A-District 5 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Dunnellon at 4 Eastside
6 Crystal River at 3 Lake Weir (Ocala), 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Dunnellon/4 Eastside winner at 1 North Marion (Citra)
6 Crystal River/3 Lake Weir winner at 2 Santa Fe (Alachua)

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 5A-District 2 at higher seed

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Chiles (Tallahassee) at 4 Lincoln (Tallahassee), 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Chiles/4 Lincoln winner at 1 Gainesville
3 Columbia (Lake City) at 2 Leon (Tallahassee)

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD

Class 6A-District 3 at Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) – Semifinals & Championship

Quarterfinals – Monday, Feb. 3
5 Matanzas (Palm Coast) at 4 Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 6:30 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 5
5 Matanzas/4 Bartram Trail winner at 1 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine)
3 Buchholz vs. 2 Forest (Ocala), 6 p.m.

Championship – Friday, Feb. 7
TBD