BY CLIFF SMELLEY
The Bradford and Union County high school boys basketball teams were runners-up in their respective district tournaments on Feb. 7 and qualified for the regional playoffs, with the Florida High School Athletic Association announcing seedings and matchups on Feb. 9.
Bradford earned the fifth seed in Region 1-3A and will travel to DeFuniak Springs to play fourth seed Walton (21-4) in a quarterfinal game on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. Central Time. If the Tornadoes win, they’ll travel to Jacksonville to play top seed Andrew Jackson or host eighth seed Marianna in a semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The region also consists of second seed Newberry (19-3) hosting seventh seed South Walton (15-12) and third seed Episcopal (21-7) hosting sixth seed Pensacola Catholic (20-8).
Bradford is making its first regional appearance in four years and is in the playoffs for the 29th year overall. The Tornadoes have a postseason record of 19-28.
The last time Bradford qualified for regionals, it went on to win the Class 1A state championship in 2022.
Walton is in the regional playoffs for the third straight year and for the 21st year overall. The Braves, who haven’t won a regional game in seven years, have a postseason record of 8-20.
Bradford and Walton have met each other once in the regional playoffs, with the Tornadoes winning 68-47 in a second-game in 2000.
UCHS to play Hilliard
In Region 3-Rural, Union (14-8) earned the third seed and will travel to play second seed Hilliard (17-5) in a semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. If the Tigers win, they’ll travel to play top seed Trenton (22-4) or host fourth seed Hamilton County (16-7) for the championship on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Tigers are making their first postseason appearance in 13 years and have qualified for regionals for the 16th year overall. Union has a 12-15 postseason record. The Tigers went 2-1 in the 1975 playoffs, 3-1 in 1994 and 2-1 each in 2012 and 2013. All four of those seasons ended in the state semifinals.
Hilliard has qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight year and for the 40th year overall. The Flashes, who have a postseason record of 35-39, were Class C state champions in 1963 and state runners-up in 1946, 1952, 1954, 1958, 1965, 2020 and 2024.
