By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Poinciana will host a regional quarterfinal game for the second straight year when Gainesville Eastside comes to Mike Brizendine Gym tonight at 7 p.m.

The Eagles (23-2) earned the right with a 55-44 win over Harmony in the 4A District 6 championship on Saturday at Celebration High. The Longhorns (15-7) also return to the regional playoffs, as they travel to 4A-5 champion Leesburg tonight.

Poinciana got a balanced attack Saturday — 17 points from Geri Navarro, 15 from Tralonie Tisdale and 13 from Kadesia Johnson — as they led the Longhorns from tip to buzzer.

Poinciana shot to an early seven-point lead which stayed mostly intact until early in the fourth quarter, when the Longhorns briefly pulled within four at 40-36 with seven minutes left.

“It was a good game, of course, Harmony made their run at the end before we made one to finish it,” PHS Coach Jamerson Jones said. “We just played solid, and the difference was our execution at the end. I credit Harmony because they fought hard. “We missed some easy shots, so there’s room for improvement.”

The Eagles registered the first back-to-back district championships in any team sport in school history, which extends 20 years, but Jones said his team needs to look forward.

“I don’t think about the past too much. It’s good to get our name out there, and we know we’re making history and that we’re blessed, but everybody’s playing for today and that one goal, which is getting to Lakeland.”

Jones said playing Eastside will be much like looking in the mirror.

“They’re going to be quick and they press, just like us,” he said.

Harmony, which also played Poinciana tough (46-41) in the regular season, has the tougher of tonight’s two tests. The Yellow Jackets are a favorite to make the 4A Final Four.

The Longhorns, with three freshmen (Julia Ingler, Becca Fitzpatrick, Ragen Dotson) starting alongside juniors Nia Frederick and Marie Gilbert, are something of a surprise regional qualifier.

“We knew Poinciana would be the team to beat, but we also knew we had talent coming in and that No. 2 spot gave us a chance to be in the playoffs,” HHS Coach Paul Strauch said. “Now, if you told me we’d have two good chances to beat Poinciana, that’d be optimistic.”

Strauch said that being young is not an excuse to back down.

“Playing Leesburg is an awesome opportunity,” he said. “Everybody’s a solid team at this point, and we’re not afraid to play anybody.”