Hoop Exchange will hold its annual Southern Series on Friday and Saturday at Sagemont School in an event that will feature three defending state champions and two of past year’s state qualifiers from South Florida.

Host Sagemont, the state runner-up in Class 3A, is currently ranked No. 1 in that class by SourceHoops.com and plays a pair of tough opponents. The Lions start Friday by taking on much-improved Deerfield Beach, the top-ranked team in Class 8A, at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sagemont will face Tampa Catholic, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, at 6:30 p.m.

Defending Class 7A state champion Blanche Ely, which enters the tournament ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps, will play Cardinal Gibbons at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Defending Class 8A state champion Hialeah Gardens will take on defending Class 5A state semifinalist Plantation American Heritage at 7 p.m. Friday. Both teams are favorites to make a run at a state title this season in their respective classes.

Coral Springs Christian, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A, plays Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, Chaminade-Madonna will take on Palm Beach Lakes, ranked No. 9 in Class 7A, at 3:30 p.m.

 1 in Class 6A and the Stingarees enter the weekend ranked No. 10 in Class 8A.

Friday’s schedule: Coral Springs Christian vs. Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, 5:30; Plantation American Heritage vs. Hialeah Gardens, 7; Deerfield Beach vs. Sagemont, 8:30.

Saturday’s schedule: Palm Beach Lakes vs. Chaminade-Madonna, 3:30; Norland vs. Miami High, 5; Sagemont vs. Tampa Catholic, 6:30; Blanche Ely vs. Cardinal Gibbons, 8.

GIBBONS GOES PINK

Cardinal Gibbons is going pink on Friday in its effort to raise cancer awareness.

What would have been just another nondistrict basketball matchup against Everglades will take on added significance when Gibbons shows its support for cancer victims by wearing pink socks, wrist bands, and head bands on “Pink Day.”

Gibbons coach Kevin Gordon, who has the girls’ team off to a surprising 8-2 start, said all four Chiefs teams — girls’ and boys’ junior varsity and girls’ and boys’ varsity, will participate. Gordon added he will extend Everglades an offer to join the cause.

Pink rubber wrist bands will be sold for $1 with the proceeds going toward a cancer charity.

FABIAN LYON

GIRLS’ SOCCER

•  Pine Crest 3, Calvary Christian 0: Sophia Danielsen fourth shutout. Jasmine Docal two goals. Julia Moore goal. PC 10-5-2.

•  ST. Thomas 8, Plantation 0: Jessica Hoyt 1 goal, 4 assist. Sara Perlman 3 goals. Caroline Fernandez 1 goal. Cassandra Etzig 1 goal. Alex Bute 1 goal. Nina Bosch 1 goal. STA 14-0.

•  Archbishop McCarthy 9, Dillard 0: Stephanie Moreno 2 goals. Mikayla Plummer, Brook Williamson, Yari Bradfield, Taylor Shore, Nikki Sica, Alexa Rivera and Gaby Maranges had one goal each. AM 13-5.

BOYS’ SOCCER

•  Monarch 1, Douglas 0: Gian Scalise goal. Alejandro Bermudez assist. Rafael DeJesus 7 saves, sixth shutout. Mon 9-1-2, DOU 6-7-0.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

•  Sagemont 62, Calvary Christian 40 – SAG (6-2): Cole 14, Black 9, Rucker 4, Smith 3, Pierre 8, Griffin 10, Correa 5, Marshall 9. CAL (3-6): Isaac 6, Spring 18, Kreisel 3, Nevils 2, Nazario 2, Ridenour 8, Pellingra. Halftime: SAG 29-18. Rebounds: Correa 7. Assists: Rucker 5. Steals: Black 6.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

•  American Prep 58, Somerset Central 53 – AP (9-3): Williams 2, Adem 6, Lindsay 8, Sawyer 14, Brown 28. SC (3-5): Francois 9, Atakis 10,Edwards 6, Law 20. Halftime Score: SC 27-23. Three-pointers: Atakis 2, Brown 2, Linsday 2. Rebounds : Brown 21. Assists: Cervero 4, Brown 4, Sawyer 4. Steals: Williams 4, Brown 4.

•  Deerfield 59, Piper 48 – DB: Johnson 16, Owens 25, Jenkins 6, Kelly 7, Huntley 2, Grant 1, Carpenter 2. Pip: Williams 3, Drummond 9, Joseph 21, Daniels 11, Hall 4. Halftime: DB 23-19. Three-pointers: Owens 3, Johnson 1, Williams 1, Drummond 1, Joseph 1, Daniels 1. Fouled Out: White, Daniels, Hall, Burton. Rebounds: Jenkins 10. Assists: Owens 3. Steals: Johnson 3.