Sports

Lecanto’s Mallory Mushlit fights off Columbia’s Kyndall Norris to corral possession of the ball during Tuesday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lecanto’s Mallory Mushlit fights off Columbia’s Kyndall Norris to corral possession of the ball during Tuesday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS SOCCER: Mushlit’s hat trick helps Lecanto eliminate Columbia in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
LECANTO — Lecanto practically lived in Columbia’s half of the field late Tuesday night. It wasn’t a huge change of pace from the first half, but with the Tigers down a goal late, they needed to push the accelerator. The only problem? Columbia was already out of gas. The No.
Lafayette’s Jolette Moreno battles with Christ’s Church Academy’s Dani Raulerson during Tuesday’s Region 1-2A quarterfinal. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette’s Jolette Moreno battles with Christ’s Church Academy’s Dani Raulerson during Tuesday’s Region 1-2A quarterfinal. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

GIRLS SOCCER: Lafayette can't crawl out of early hole, falls to CCA in Region 1-2A quarterfinals

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
MAYO — Lafayette spent its playoff opener crawling out of an early 3-0 hole against visiting Christ’s Church Academy. The No. 4 seed Hornets fought valiantly, coming within a goal twice (at 3-2 and then at 4-3). The rally, however, fell short as the No.
The Suwannee girls weightlifting team won its fifth straight regional title in the traditional event and repeated as Olympic champions at the Region 1-1A meet Saturday at SHS. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

The Suwannee girls weightlifting team won its fifth straight regional title in the traditional event and repeated as Olympic champions at the Region 1-1A meet Saturday at SHS. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee sweeps titles at regional meet, leads area in state qualifiers

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, February 6, 2023
LIVE OAK — The road to state in Class 1A still goes through Suwannee. One week after the SHS girls weightlifting team won district titles in both the traditional and Olympic events, the Bulldogs pulled off the double again in the Region 1-1A meet Saturday at SHS.
Columbia guard Jerome Carter shoots against Baker County on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Jerome Carter shoots against Baker County on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: A look at district tournaments, and teams' playoff chances

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, February 6, 2023
The district tournaments for boys basketball begin today. Here’s where, and who, the area teams will play and also where they sit in the playoff race. DISTRICT 2-5A Semifinals and championship at Columbia Schedule: Feb. 7, quarterfinals: No. 5 Middleburg at No. 4 Ridgeview, 7 p.m.; No.
Florida's Myreon Jones is pressured by Kentucky's CJ Fredrick during Saturday’s game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 (JAMES CRISP/Associated Press)

Florida's Myreon Jones is pressured by Kentucky's CJ Fredrick during Saturday’s game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 (JAMES CRISP/Associated Press)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Kentucky posts wire-to-wire victory over Florida

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, February 4, 2023
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Freshman Cason Wallace scored 20 points, Jacob Toppin had a double-double and Kentucky never trailed in a 72-67 victory over Florida on Saturday night. Wallace made 7 of 10 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer and all five of his free throws for the Wildcats (16-7, 7-3 SEC).
Florida State guard Matthew Cleveland (35) tries to strip the ball away from Louisville guard El Ellis (3) during Saturday’s game in Louisville, Ky. (TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/Associated Press)

Florida State guard Matthew Cleveland (35) tries to strip the ball away from Louisville guard El Ellis (3) during Saturday’s game in Louisville, Ky. (TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/Associated Press)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Cleveland, Florida State hold off Louisville

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, February 4, 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Matt Cleveland drove the baseline for a layup with 1:32 left to allow Florida State to fend off a late, 17-2 run by Louisville to escape with an 81-78 victory on Saturday.
Fort White’s Najeeb Smith goes up for a layup in front of a Williston defender Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White’s Najeeb Smith goes up for a layup in front of a Williston defender Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Indians come up short against ‘measuring stick’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, February 3, 2023
FORT WHITE — It just wasn’t Najeeb Smith’s night. Or Brandon DeMartino’s. Or anyone else wearing a white jersey. Fort White (15-8) dropped its regular-season finale Friday night, succumbing to a tall, fast and physical Williston squad 62-37.
Columbia’s Kyndall Norris dribbles past Lincoln’s Izzy Young during Wednesday’s District 2-5A championship in Tallahassee. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Kyndall Norris dribbles past Lincoln’s Izzy Young during Wednesday’s District 2-5A championship in Tallahassee. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS & GIRLS SOCCER: CHS girls make playoffs for first time ever, boys left out

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 3, 2023
A tough 8-0 loss to Lincoln in the District 2-5A championship had Columbia’s girls soccer team hoping it would still make the playoffs as one of the last teams in. Turns out there was no drama at all. The Tigers made it comfortably for the first time in program history.