DISTRICT GIRLS BASKETBALL: Wekiva snaps Mainland's 11-game winning streak

APOPKA — An all-too-familiar postseason nemesis halted Mainland's 11-game winning streak Friday night.

Wekiva, which defeated the Bucs three times a season ago including in the Elite Eight, had all five starters score in double figures en route to a 69-55 victory in the District 4-6A final. Prior to tipoff, both teams were ranked inside the top-15 statewide across all classifications, per MaxPreps.

Mainland (19-2) will start the regional playoffs on the road with a trip to Jacksonville First Coast at 7 p.m. Thursday. UNC Greensboro commit Isys Grady led all scorers with 24 points, adding 15 rebounds.

"I'm going to give credit where credit is due. They're a really good program," Grady said. "I felt like today we were better prepared than we were last year. We've just got to be better next time."

Freshman guard Jada Eads paced the Mustangs (20-3) with 17 points, flashing impressive speed and composure at the basket. Rylan Moffitt chipped in 15, Shadaria Smith and K'Nari Holliday had 12 apiece and Shaniyah McCarthy scored all 11 of her points after halftime.

Team defense, Mainland Head Coach Brandon Stewart believes, could play the deciding role if the teams meet again — as expected — in Round 2.

"When you have a team that's that powerful, everyone has to help each other," Stewart said. "There were no sad faces after this game. I told my girls they deserved the right to feel upset.

"They left it all on the floor, and we still didn't get it done. … We're going at it with the mindset that we are the underdog, and we have to give them our best bet."

Five teams from the Volusia-Flagler reached the championship games in their respective districts, securing spots in the state playoffs. Here's a roundup of all district finals involving local programs.

Spruce Creek 67, Lake Mary 58

Kacie Oelkers tallied a double-double, setting team highs with 19 points and 10 rebounds, as Spruce Creek defended its district title.

Three other starters exceeded double figures — Richainti Harrell (17 points), Tyja Beans (15 points with nine rebounds) and Emma Perna (14 points).

The Hawks (17-5), ranked No. 4 in Class 7A by MaxPreps, will have a rubber match in Round 1 against Ponte Vedra Nease. Spruce Creek split a pair of regular-season contests with the Panthers, most recently a 76-65 triumph in Palm Coast on Jan. 8.

Cocoa 48, Atlantic 38

George Butts' 25th and final season in charge of the Sharks will result in one last playoff ride, thanks to his team toppling Titusville in the District 9-4A semifinals.

Atlantic (10-6) traded blows with Cocoa in Friday's final, hanging around for all but the final two minutes in a 10-point defeat. Kiki Bean paced the team with 12 points, and Tristen O'Berry had 10.

The Sharks will travel to St. Petersburg Lakewood for the second year in a row in the regional quarterfinal round.

Calvary Christian 38, Trinity Christian 37

Kailani Merrell had 18 points for Calvary, and Tenaya Bennett's potential game-winning bucket rimmed out with 6.8 seconds left in regulation as the host Lions captured the District 9-2A crown.

Bennett had the hot hand for Trinity (8-7), scoring 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting. The senior chipped in seven steals, six rebounds and three assists.

Calvary (9-6) hosts Orlando Central Florida Christian Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday, while Trinity visits Winter Garden Foundation Academy.