Sports

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.
Columbia forward Jalen Gaskins tries to get a shot up over Rickards forward Tarek Caesor during Thursday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia forward Jalen Gaskins tries to get a shot up over Rickards forward Tarek Caesor during Thursday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia gets blown out by Rickards in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 16, 2024
TALLAHASSEE — It was easy to sum up Thursday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal — Rickards was just a more talented team than Columbia.  After two wins over the Tigers in five days, the Raiders made that very clear. Round 2 between Rickards and Columbia was never in doubt.
Columbia guard Noah Wilson shoots while defended by Rickards guard Chadwick Ellenwood (left) and forward Benjamin Plummer (5) during the District 2-5A championship on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Noah Wilson shoots while defended by Rickards guard Chadwick Ellenwood (left) and forward Benjamin Plummer (5) during the District 2-5A championship on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia more confident for round 2 vs. Rickards following loss in district championship

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Despite losing to Rickards by 16 just five days ago, Columbia isn’t lacking confidence entering Thursday's rematch. If anything, the Tigers feel there’s more pressure on the Raiders.