Sports

The Fort White girls basketball team hoists the District 6-1A Championship trophy in the air as it celebrates the program’s first district title Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

The Fort White girls basketball team hoists the District 6-1A Championship trophy in the air as it celebrates the program’s first district title Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Fort White holds off Bradford for first district title in program history

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, February 4, 2022
FORT WHITE — DeShay Harris sat on the bench, his hands tucked in the pockets of his Fort White letterman jacket. The Indians’ head coach’s stare reached past the confetti littering the floor and the students rushing the court. His stoicism betrayed no emotion, save for a faint glimmer in his eyes.
Columbia guard Na’Haviya Paxton battles Gainesville forward Imari Keenon for possession Friday night in the District 3-6A Championship Game on Friday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Na’Haviya Paxton battles Gainesville forward Imari Keenon for possession Friday night in the District 3-6A Championship Game on Friday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Columbia falls to Gainesville in foul-filled District 3-6A Championship

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 4, 2022
GAINESVILLE — Columbia head coach Anthony Perry took Gainesville off the schedule this year. Why? Poor officiating. On Friday night, his Tigers had no choice but to play the Hurricanes in the Purple Palace for the District 3-6A Championship.
Columbia recognized seniors Ke’juan Paige (from left), Caden Perry, Brae Deal, Jerome Fulton and Marcus Peterson before Friday night’s game. (CONCEPCION LEDEZMA/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia recognized seniors Ke’juan Paige (from left), Caden Perry, Brae Deal, Jerome Fulton and Marcus Peterson before Friday night’s game. (CONCEPCION LEDEZMA/Special to the Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia holds off Madison County on Senior Night

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Friday, February 4, 2022
With the district tournament on the horizon, Senior Night for Columbia at first looked like it was going to also turn into Tuneup Night.
Suwannee's Omar Carreon corrals the ball against Columbia on Jan. 7. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee's Omar Carreon corrals the ball against Columbia on Jan. 7. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS SOCCER: Suwannee receives at-large playoff berth, will travel to Eastside

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 4, 2022
LIVE OAK — One day after seeing its district title hopes vanish, the Suwannee High boys soccer team received a postseason invite anyway. The Bulldogs posted the seventh-highest FHSAA ranking in Region 1-4A and earned the seventh seed in the region playoffs.
Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson reacts during a game against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 22, 2019. (TIM HAWK/TNS)

Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson reacts during a game against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 22, 2019. (TIM HAWK/TNS)

NFL: Jaguars hire Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, February 3, 2022
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their head coach Thursday night, ending a wild and winding search that ended up where it started more than a month ago.
Columbia head coach Steve Faulkner is pictured holding the game ball with his team after the Tigers defeated Forest on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia head coach Steve Faulkner is pictured holding the game ball with his team after the Tigers defeated Forest on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Faulkner surpasses Barnett as Columbia’s all-time winningest coach in blowout over Forest

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
A couple of weeks back, Columbia principal Trey Hosford asked head coach Steve Faulkner to double check his record at the school. Faulkner thought it was a bit of an odd request. “I thought I was being fired or something,” Faulkner joked. Turns out it was for a pretty good reason.
Columbia guard Anzarria Jerkins steals the ball away from Fleming Island guard Kennedy Williams. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Anzarria Jerkins steals the ball away from Fleming Island guard Kennedy Williams. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Paxton, Jerkins prove double trouble for Fleming Island in Columbia's district semifinal win

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
GAINESVILLE — The blare of the final buzzer had long dissipated. But the girls from Columbia lingered on the court at Gainesville High School for just a bit longer. The Buchholz cheerleaders had lined the sides of the court in preparation for their team to make its entrance.