The finality of the months-long journey elicited more than one set of tears inside UNF Arena last week.
The Florida High School Athletic Association brought its state basketball championships back to Jacksonville for the first time in 50 years. The 11-day FHSAA state series produced record-setting crowds and enough emotion to power the next Ryan Coogler film.
Jacksonville Today asked local high school students Breionna Watson and Yash Patel to help illustrate atmosphere at UNF. Breionna is a senior at Sandalwood High who plans to study journalism next year. Yash is a junior at Atlantic Coast High who enjoys storytelling through images.
Evie Freeman led the Bolles girls basketball team with 11 points during the Bulldogs’ 64-52 loss to Orlando Lake Highland Prep during a FHSAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday, March 9, 2026. The Bulldogs ended their season 25-5. | Yash Patel, Special to Jacksonville Today
The excitement, energy and elegance of basketball were captured by Yash, Breionna and Jacksonville Today.
One game that represented plenty of all three was the March 12 Class 4A girls basketball final, when Bishop Kenny beat Orlando Bishop Moore 58-48.
Kathleen Crawley burst into tears the moment the horn sounded. The Bishop Kenny junior played all 32 minutes to help the Crusaders win their first state title in 34 years.
The Crusaders (28-4) were led by irrepressible freshman point guard Shea Donovan, who finished with 16 points and five assists.
Bishop Kenny freshman Shea Donovan scored 16 to lead the Crusaders. Bishop Kenny defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 58-48 in a FHSAA Class 4A girls basketball final on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Crusaders (28-4) won their first state championship in 34 years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Crawley finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Sienna Williams’ 3-pointer at the start of the second half ignited the Bishop Kenny offense in the final 16 minutes.
Bishop Kenny guard Sienna Williams drains a 3-point attempt over Bishop Moore guard Kylee Trent. Bishop Kenny defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 58-48 in a FHSAA Class 4A girls basketball final on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Crusaders (28-4) won their first state championship in 34 years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
“It feels amazing,” junior forward Makala DesJarlais said. “I’m surrounded by my teammates, my best friends. We play as a team. We went out there and said, ‘I’m not going to let you lose.’ They said, ‘They are not going to let me lose.’ We played. We had each other’s back. It feels amazing to do it with these girls.”
DesJarlais recorded with 13 points and seven rebounds in the title game.
Bishop Kenny forward Makala DesJarlais was an efficient 63% from the field during the FHSAA Class 4A state final. Bishop Kenny defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 58-48 in a FHSAA Class 4A girls basketball final on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Crusaders (28-4) won their first state championship in 34 years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Junior forward Elle Deegan, whose 3-pointer with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter gave Bishop Kenny a lead they would never relinquish, scored all seven of her points in the second half.
“We told ourselves, let’s play our basketball,” DesJarlais said. “Let’s not play how they want to play. Let’s play how we play. That’s where we are successful. We played our speed, our game and that’s how we did what we needed to do.”
The two schools named after former Bishops of St. Augustine – both of whom contracted yellow fever in Jacksonville in 1888 – competed for a basketball championship…in Jacksonville.
Bishop Kenny’s starting five of Shea Donovan, Sienna Williams, Elle Deegan, Kathleen Crawley and Makala DesJarlais combined for 53 of the Crusaders’ 58 points in their Class 4A state final win over Orlando Bishop Moore on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Crusaders (28-4) won their first state championship in 34 years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Bishop Kenny’s girls were among the 10 Northeast Florida programs that competed at the state basketball championships this year.
While the Crusaders’ ended Duval County’s nine-year championship drought on the girls side; Providence ended Duval’s 10-year wait for a boys basketball champion.
Providence beat Miami Country Day 51-43 on March 7 to earn the program’s fourth title.
FHSAA administrator Ed Thompson said the association was thrilled at the turnout and collaboration for the state basketball tournament.
Michael Underwood Jr., center, leaps through the air during Andrew Jackson High School’s FHSAA Class 3A state semifinal contest against The Villages Charter on Monday, March 9, 2026 inside UNF Arena. | Yash Patel, Special to Jacksonville Today
“Jacksonville is a basketball town. It has been as long as I have been doing this,” Thompson said. “There is a long history for excellent basketball and support for basketball there.”
State officials estimate nearly 21,000 tickets were sold for the 48 games that were held over two weeks at UNF Arena. If accurate – final numbers are expected by early next week – it would represent a 15% increase from the 2025 state championships and the highest number of ticket sales since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corenzes Dennard (11) drives to the basket against Jomar Bernard (23) during the fourth quarter of Andrew Jackson High School’s FHSAA Class 3A semifinal contest against The Villages Charter on Monday, March 9, 2026. The Tigers lost 54-52 to conclude their season 28-2. | Breionna Watson, Special to Jacksonville Today
“We are excited for that turnout,” says Jacksonville Sports Foundation CEO Samantha Vance. “It’s the first time in Jacksonville, and hopefully, many years to come. Having a closer seat to the court and views from every direction that is visible allows you to have a full experience. An impactful part about the arena experience was that we were able to provide different types of seating. The excitement in the gym was really thrilling.”
No game had the energy or excitement of the Class 3A boys semifinal between The Villages Charter and Andrew Jackson. An estimated 4,800 people watched that contest on March 9.
Donald Hackworth, Javion Davis, Terrell Mosely II, Corenzes Dennard and King Sanders helped the Tigers win the Gateway Conference, a Region 1-3A title and finish 28-2. Jackson lost to The Villages Charter 54-52 in a FHSAA Class 3A semifinal on March 9, 2026 inside UNF Arena. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
It was an audience that included Duval County Superintendent Christopher Bernier, former Tigers from throughout the decades as well as legendary Ribault girls basketball coach Al Austin.
The Villages stunned all of them, and a few thousand others, with a 54-52 win.
Ethan Bevis’ layup with less than a second to go, lifted The Villages Charter to the Class 3A final. For Jackson, it was a heartbreaking end to a 28-2 season that included Gateway Conference and the Region 1-3A title.
For a few fleeting seconds the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat shared the same space. Eventually, Jackson’s disappointment dissolved into pride for a fantastic season.
The Villages Charter forward Ethan Bevis is mobbed by his teammates following his game-winning shot in a FHSAA Class 3A boys basketball semifinal on Monday, March 9, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Andrew Jackson’s boys basketball players walk off the court at UNF Arena following their 54-52 loss to The Villages Charter during a 2026 FHSAA Class 3A state semifinal. The Tigers finished with a 28-2 record. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
For The Villages point guard Aaron Britt, it was a happy homecoming. The four-star prospect is a Jacksonville native who played in front of nearly two dozen family, friends and loved ones.
The Villages Charter point guard Aaron Britt Jr. attempts a layup over Andrew Jackson guard King Sanders during the third quarter of a FHSAA Class 3A state semifinal on Monday, March 9, 2026. Britt is a Jacksonville native who led The Villages to a team-high 17 points. | Breionna Watson, Special to Jacksonville Today
The dream ended there for Britt and The Villages. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian blitzed the Buffaloes 87-51 in the Class 3A final. Calvary Christian was led by a power forward whose Twitter bio says he is a professional athlete.
The Villages Charter forward Jomar Bernard (23) played all 32 minutes of the Buffaloes Class 3A state semifinal win against Andrew Jackson on Monday, March 9, 2026. Jackson’s Javion Davis, left, and Corenzes Dennard, right, were among the multiple Tigers who were deployed to stop the 6-foot-7 Bernard. | Yash Patel, Special to Jacksonville Today
Not every champion from South Florida was littered with prospects with their eyes beyond varsity basketball.
Riviera Beach Suncoast won its first state title in 36 years on March 12 when it defeated Port Orange Atlantic 85-62 in the Class 4A boys final.
Riviera Beach Suncoast guard Kyree McKelton produced 12 points, six assists and seven steals to help the Chargers beat Port Orange Atlantic 85-62 in the FHSAA Class 4A boys basketball final on Thursday, March 12, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
The Chargers were electrified by the active hands of senior guard Kyree McKelton – who produced seven steals in less than 10 minutes of game time – and the levitation of four-year guard Aaron Horton.
In all, 12 Suncoast players scored in a game the Chargers (25-5) never trailed.
Riviera Beach Suncoast guard Aaron Horton (23) celebrates after the Chargers beat Port Orange Atlantic 85-62 to win the FHSAA Class 4A boys basketball title on Thursday, March 12, 2026 inside UNF Arena. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Once the coronation was complete, Suncoast assistant Markee James had tears in his eyes. James coached at high schools in Palm Beach County for years. He and Suncoast head Coach Jason Powell dreamed about an opportunity to work together. That happened this season and the result was a title and tears.
Suncoast High junior Zack Olius isn’t on the team. He’s a basketball fan who loves his school. That’s why Zack led the student section in chants, cheers and the occasional roast of the Atlantic students.
“I just love basketball and I love my peers,” Zack said during the second half of Suncoast’s burgeoning blowout. “This is a dream come true for me to have this responsibility.”
When 64 teams compete for 16 championships, of course, not everyone leaves Jacksonville with a trophy.
Nevertheless, the River City emerged victorious.
Lake Highland Prep guard Valeria Munoz, right, shot 50% from the field and scored a game-high 20 points during the Highlanders’ 64-52 win over Caelyn Carter and the Bolles girls basketball team on Monday, March 9 2026. | Yash Patel, Special to Jacksonville Today
Thompson says the collaboration between UNF, the city of Jacksonville and other local partners exceeded their initial expectations.
“The venue was what we were looking for as far as providing an atmosphere where spectators could be close to the court and the people on the court could feel the energy in the gym,” Thompson said. “It got loud. And, that was exciting.”
Andrew Jackson guard Terrell Mosley II, center, tries to finish at the rim between the outstretched arms of The Villages Charter defenders Jomar Bernard (23) and Kymani Weathers (14) during the second half of a FHSAA Class 3A boys basketball semifinal on Monday, March 9, 2026. | Breionna Watson, Special to Jacksonville Today
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan proclaimed March 10 FHSAA Day in Jacksonville. The next afternoon, everyone from federal judges to local tourism officials to a former WNBA Commissioner watched Bishop Kenny win its first title since 1992.
For Vance, a former collegiate track and field athlete who has spent more than a decade a sports executive, witnessing trailblazers in girls and women’s sports – like former Bishop Kenny basketball player Mary Pat Corrigan – watch today’s athletes achieve their dreams in Jacksonville was the highlight of her week
Bishop Kenny defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 58-48 in a FHSAA Class 4A girls basketball final on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Crusaders (28-4) won their first state championship in 34 years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
“Honestly, I was surprised at the level of support,” Vance said this week. “To see the crowds of men, watching and supporting, the young ladies in sports was very surprising. It brought joy for me to see that.”