Middleton, Fla. — One down, two to go.

The Villages High School girls basketball team began its quest for a Class 4A-District 6 Tournament title — and the automatic state playoff berth that comes with it — in earnest on Monday night, cruising to a 66-34 victory over Lake Weir in Middleton.

With the win, the Buffalo advance to Wednesday night's district tournament semifinal against Umatilla. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at VHS.

"The girls knew they had a job to do," Buffalo head coach Marquez Porter said after the win. "We had to lock in and focus. They stayed focused and got the job done."

Evah Watterson led the way for VHS (12-11 overall) by scoring 19 of her game-high 22 points in the first half, helping the Buffalo out to a 41-14 lead at the half. Watterson made seven shots from the floor — including five 3-pointers — over the first two quarters of action, while the Hurricanes (2-15) made just five shots from the field as a team in the first half.

With just over three minutes to play in the third quarter, Iva Charles put a shot off the backboard and through the net to give VHS a 35-point lead and initiate a running clock throughout the remainder of the district quarterfinal.

Zion McRae added 14 points for VHS in the win, while Ray'niah Gould and Makayla Crews each had 10.

"For a good portion of the season, Zion (McRae) has carried us," Porter said. "But the way the other girls are playing now, I knew from the beginning that they could be doing this. It just had to take time and there's a process to it. But they're coming along, as expected, and they're playing really good basketball for us."


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