Sports

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey drives to the basket while defended by Mainland guard Jerel Moore (10) during Friday’s Region 1-5A final. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey drives to the basket while defended by Mainland guard Jerel Moore (10) during Friday’s Region 1-5A final. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia falls to Mainland in Region 1-5A final after tough no-call

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 24, 2023
DAYTONA BEACH — A 14-point deficit was down to one and Columbia had the ball with 6.4 seconds left. Mainland, holding its breath, watched Isaac Broxey get into the paint hounded defensively by Jerel Moore. Broxey rose, so did Moore, and Broxey let a shot go amid plenty of contact.
SHS

SHS

PREP WRESTLING: Suwannee leads regionals, has 12 wrestlers left

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 24, 2023
WEWAHITCHKA — With either wrestlers in semifinal matches, Suwannee High leads the Region 1-1A IBT meet. The Bulldogs, who also have their other four wrestlers in the consolation portion of the brackets, totaled 85 points during Friday’s opening day of the tournament at Wewahitchka High School.
CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS, LHS

CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS, LHS

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

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 24, 2023
BASEBALL — Fort White 8, Taylor County 2: Matthew Pitts went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Lecosta Byrd also had two RBIs on a 1-for-3 night to lead the Indians (1-1) past the Bulldogs (0-1) at home Thursday night.
Columbia shortstop (2) Brayden Thomas celebrates as outfielder Carston Palmer (3) scores on an error against Santa Fe on Thursday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia shortstop (2) Brayden Thomas celebrates as outfielder Carston Palmer (3) scores on an error against Santa Fe on Thursday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia takes advantage of Santa Fe miscues to roll to first win

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, February 23, 2023
ALACHUA — Columbia head coach Chris Howard had a simple message for Grant Bowers. After giving up a pair of singles to Santa Fe to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, the CHS starter got some wisdom from his coach. “He told me to just believe in my stuff and do what I do best,” Bowers said.
Columbia guard Isaac Broxey rises for a layup against Ridgeview in the District 2-5A semifinals on Feb. 8. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey rises for a layup against Ridgeview in the District 2-5A semifinals on Feb. 8. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Focused, energized Columbia ready for Mainland in Region 1-5A final

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, February 23, 2023
It was four weeks ago that Columbia got ‘punked,’ as head coach Steve Faulkner puts it. Santa Fe handed the Tigers their lunch in a 57-49 loss, a game where they trailed by 15 at halftime. It proved to be a wakeup call, an eye opener for Columba, which hasn’t lost since. Six wins in a row.
CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS, LHS

CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS, LHS

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 2/22/23

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, February 23, 2023
 SOFTBALL — Columbia 7, Taylor County 6: Anna Dansby went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a double, McKenna O’Sullivan went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a double, and the Tigers held on to beat the Bulldogs on the road Wednesday night.
Kolt Myers slides into home plate safely, beating a tag from Columbia catcher Hayden Gustavson on Wednesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Kolt Myers slides into home plate safely, beating a tag from Columbia catcher Hayden Gustavson on Wednesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Frier thrown out at the plate on final play, Columbia drops opener to Bartram Trail

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Down a run and with a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, Camdon Frier rounded third base, paused for a quick second, then heard Columbia head coach Chris Howard yell ‘go!’ That one second cost the Tigers.
FGC receiver Destiny Lockett looks in a pass during Tuesday’s practice. (COURTESY OF FGC )

FGC receiver Destiny Lockett looks in a pass during Tuesday’s practice. (COURTESY OF FGC )

COLLEGE FLAG FOOTBALL: FGC excited, hopeful as first season kicks off

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
History will happen Saturday at the Florida Gateway College multi-purpose facility — or the former Boys Club building. FGC’s flag football program will be making its debut at 1 p.m. against visiting Xavier University with a doubleheader.
Kentucky guard Cason Wallace drives against Florida guard Niels Lane on Wednesday in Gainesville. (ALAN YOUNGBLOOD/Associated Press)

Kentucky guard Cason Wallace drives against Florida guard Niels Lane on Wednesday in Gainesville. (ALAN YOUNGBLOOD/Associated Press)

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Kentucky beats Florida for third straight win

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
GAINESVILLE — Oscar Tshiebwe scored 25 points, Jacob Toppin had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Kentucky beat Florida 82-74 on Wednesday night for its third straight victory. Toppin closed a 15-4 run with a 3-pointer and fast-break dunk to give Kentucky a 74-63 lead with 3:43 left.