Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School boys basketball team released its 2023-24 season schedule on Sunday.

The Buffalo, who played in their first state championship game in program history last March, will host 11 opponents inside their new 1,200-seat gymnasium on the Middleton campus, while also competing in six special events this winter.

VHS opens against Providence (Jacksonville) on Nov. 20 in the Buckshot O'Brien Classic in Clearwater, kicking off its campaign with the first of four games played at neutral sites. The Villages will play Wharton (Tampa) on Day 2 of the event, before participating in the Florida Get Down on Nov. 25 in Orlando and the Breast Cancer Awareness Classic on Dec. 2 in Orlando.

The Buffalo plays the first of three Class 4A-District 6 contests scheduled this winter on Dec. 4 at Mount Dora. The Villages has won five straight district titles.

VHS will then take to its new gym for the first time with a 7:30 p.m. tip against Bell Creek (Riverview) on Dec. 7. The Buffalo will play 10 other home games this season, including the 10th annual Battle at The Villages from Dec. 28-30, as VHS welcomes four out-of-state and three other in-state teams to the three-day event.

A matchup of state finalist squads takes place Dec. 9, when VHS travels to Class 3A runner-up Windermere Prep to battle the host Lakers in the Orlando Health Hoopfest. The Villages will play five teams — Windermere Prep, Wharton, Tampa Catholic, Oak Ridge, Providence — that made Final Four appearances a year ago.

Along with playing in the Sun Bash on Jan. 12 in Orlando, the Buffalo will enjoy a trio of home-and-home series with three local rivals — Wildwood, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) and district foe South Sumter (Bushnell) — this season. VHS will close its regular-season slate with a Senior Night matchup against Trinity Catholic on Feb. 2.

For a complete listing of the 2023-24 schedule featuring tipoff times, opponents and locations, click here: https://athletics.tvcs.org/sports/boys-bball/schedule/2023-24


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.