Polk County girls basketball is in a full-court press in 2025-26.
But which team is having the most surprising season so far in Polk County?
In the start of the season, defending state champion Winter Haven — a feat accomplished six times in school history ― has ripped off five in a row thanks to its most recent win over The First Academy on Tuesday. With its core back, Winter Haven hasn’t scored less than 50 points and has won by an average margin of 34 points at the start of the season.
Lakeland Christian is off to a 4-0 start for the third straight year, recently just beating Lake Gibson by 64 points, holding Frostproof to just one point and winning over Victory Christian on Tuesday. The Vikings are beating teams by an average margin of 34 points.
The Lakeland Dreadnaughts have started the year at 5-2 because of a very talented roster, which makes it the best start for Lakeland in two years and a huge turnaround from a 2024-25 campaign — a season in which Lakeland didn’t win a contest. Additionally, Lakeland just beat Lake Wales 62-34 Thursday at home. With the win, this is the first time since 2007 that Lakeland has beaten Lake Wales.
Ridge Community is off to a 3-1 start with the program’s last win in an overtime thriller over Jordan Christian Prep on Monday. Ridge is building off a successful 2024-25 season, even besting the 2024 start.
Haines City has exhibited some of the best basketball in Polk County the last few years, and that trend is continuing after a 66-23 win over a very talented Ridge Community team Thursday at Ridge, which has put the Hornets at 3-2.
Discovery is off to its best start in three years with a 5-1 start. When it comes to county play, Discovery has only lost to Victory Christian on Nov. 20. Every win has been by at least 12 points, which is a sign that the program has a killer instinct.
George Jenkins is 3-3 following a 2024-25 campaign in which it had a better start and finished 17-10, though it faced some tough teams this year, including in its most recent loss to North Tampa Christian on Thursday. The Eagles have won three straight then dropped three in a row.
On paper, Lake Wales, at 3-3, looks to be one of the most talented teams in the county, and that still may be the case since it’s still early in the season. Even a loss to Lakeland on Thursday doesn’t keep it off Polk’s watch list. It’s still early in the season, but with this in mind and then some, which Polk County high school girls basketball team is having the most surprising start to this year’s campaign? This poll will be closed 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Which Polk County girls basketball team has had the most surprising start to 2025? Vote
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
