Sports

Branford's Madyson Sikes high fives an assistant coach duirng a game last season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's Madyson Sikes high fives an assistant coach duirng a game last season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 2/20/23

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
BASEBALL — Newberry 4, Suwannee 2: Grayson Greene only allowed one hit but he walked four while his defense committed costly errors as the Panthers (1-0) scored three unearned runs and four total off Greene as the Bulldogs (0-1) dropped their season opener on the road.
Fort White guard Tafari Moe gets tied up with Hilliard’s Brandyn Seldomridge in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Region 3-1A championship. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Tafari Moe gets tied up with Hilliard’s Brandyn Seldomridge in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Region 3-1A championship. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Red-hot Hilliard ends Fort White's dream season in Region 3-1A final

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
HILLIARD — The game plan between the Region 3-1A semifinal and final matchups for Fort White remained largely unchanged: attack the basket, and get the opposing star in foul trouble. It worked against CJ Ingram and Hawthorne in the semifinal. It did not work against Kevin Thomas and Hilliard.
Columbia pitcher Grant Bowers winds up to pitch against North Marion on Tuesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Grant Bowers winds up to pitch against North Marion on Tuesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia holds on to top North Marion in season opener

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
With the tying run on base and Columbia on the verge of blowing a 5-run lead, Ayden Phillips only had one thought on his mind. “Throw gas.” He, and the Tigers, had just enough left in the tank to escape with a victory over a defending state champion.
FGC guard Amayoa’ah Phillips pushes the ball up the court in transition against FSCJ on Jan. 24. (JORDAN KRORGER/Lake City Reporter)

FGC guard Amayoa’ah Phillips pushes the ball up the court in transition against FSCJ on Jan. 24. (JORDAN KRORGER/Lake City Reporter)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FGC reeling following 2 more conference losses

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
The No. 1 seed in the Sun-Lakes Conference is no longer within reach for Florida Gateway College. The Timberwolves (16-11, 5-5) dropped both of their conference games last week that had massive implications in the standings.
Suwannee’s girls weightlifting teams won the Class 1A state titles in traditional and Olympic on Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s girls weightlifting teams won the Class 1A state titles in traditional and Olympic on Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee adds 2 more state titles to growing dynasty

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
LAKELAND — Add two more titles to Suwannee High’s weightlifting dynasty. The Bulldogs won both the Olympic and traditional titles Saturday at the Class 1A girls weightlifting state meet at the RP Funding Center.
Fort White guard Darion Brinson celebrates with teammates after Fort White knocked off top-seeded Hawthorne 56-51 in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Darion Brinson celebrates with teammates after Fort White knocked off top-seeded Hawthorne 56-51 in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Fort White faces another tough matchup vs. Hilliard for a berth in state Final Four

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, February 16, 2024
FORT WHITE — One improbable win down, several more to go. But for Fort White head coach Elven Sheppard, it’s still a one-game-at-a-time mentality for his team.
Fort White guard Jayden Jackson sizes up Hawthorne's Caleb Rollerson in the first half of Thursday's Region 3-1A semifinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Jayden Jackson sizes up Hawthorne's Caleb Rollerson in the first half of Thursday's Region 3-1A semifinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Fort White stuns top-seeded Hawthorne in Region 3-1A semis

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, February 16, 2024
HAWTHORNE — As the final seconds ticked down in Thursday’s Region 3-1A semifinal matchup, Fort White guard Najeeb Smith hurled the ball in the air. It bounced back down at midcourt with a few more seconds still winding down.