Sports

Columbia guard Na’Haviya Paxton rises to score against Buchholz in the District 2-6A championship on Feb. 5. The Lady Tigers lost to Navarre 71-49 on the road in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Na’Haviya Paxton rises to score against Buchholz in the District 2-6A championship on Feb. 5. The Lady Tigers lost to Navarre 71-49 on the road in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Columbia suffers another first-round exit, falls to Navarre in regional quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, February 11, 2021
NAVARRE — Columbia’s season came to a bitter end on Thursday, losing to Navarre 71-42 on the road in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals. The Lady Raiders (18-6) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never trailed en route to their first playoff win in program history.
CHS

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PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia splits preseason games in softball

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Columbia defeated Santa Fe 8-2 but lost to Williston 6-1 in its preseason games on Thursday at the Hal Brady Rec Center. Anissa Penniman, Emma Edson and Hailey Bowmer all had 2 RBIs in the win over Santa Fe, while Addison Maxwell and Caitlyn O’Sullivan each had an RBI.
FGC’s Seth Slanker (left) and Jackson Swisher (right) pose with their winning fish at the Florida Bass Nation Bassmaster College Series qualifier on Lake Okeechobee on Saturday. (COURTESY)

FGC’s Seth Slanker (left) and Jackson Swisher (right) pose with their winning fish at the Florida Bass Nation Bassmaster College Series qualifier on Lake Okeechobee on Saturday. (COURTESY)

COLLEGE FISHING: FGC anglers earn national championship invitation

TONY BRITT
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Going into the final day of competition on the Florida Bass Nation Bassmaster College Series qualifier on Lake Okeechobee, the Florida Gateway College Bass Fishing Team of Seth Slanker and Jackson Swisher trailed the leaders by more than just a few pounds.
Urban Meyer answers questions during a news conference announcing his retirement Ohio State’s coach on Dec. 4, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP FILE PHOTO)

Urban Meyer answers questions during a news conference announcing his retirement Ohio State’s coach on Dec. 4, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP FILE PHOTO)

NFL: Meyer defends hiring ex-Iowa coach accused off racism

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer formally announced his 30-person staff Thursday, wrapping up nearly a month of work to surround himself with assistants who can help him make a successful transition from college to the NFL.
Suwannee's wrestling team poses in celebration after defeating Columbia on Wednesday. (COURTESY)

Suwannee's wrestling team poses in celebration after defeating Columbia on Wednesday. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Suwannee edges Columbia in dual

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Suwannee defeated Columbia 47-30 to win the Battle for the Paddle in Lake City Wednesday night. Timothy Jolicoeur (126), Brody Boehm (132), Tyson Musgrove (138), Dustin Wood (182) and Blaine Howard (195) all had victories for the Bulldogs, who also won two more weight classes via forfeit.
Columbia guard Charleston Ponds pushes the ball up the floor in transition against Gainesville during the District 2-6A semifinals Wednesday night at Lincoln High School. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Charleston Ponds pushes the ball up the floor in transition against Gainesville during the District 2-6A semifinals Wednesday night at Lincoln High School. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia routs Gainesville to advance to district title game & a rematch with Lincoln

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — Playoffs have become the norm at Columbia, so Wednesday’s result was no surprise. After one quarter, Gainesville didn’t stand a chance. The No. 1 seed Tigers jumped out to a 23-point lead in the first period and never trailed, blowing out the No.
Columbia guard Anzarria Jerkins goes up for a shot against Buchholz during the District 2-6A championship game on Feb. 5. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Anzarria Jerkins goes up for a shot against Buchholz during the District 2-6A championship game on Feb. 5. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lady Tigers try to put district loss behind them, aim for first playoff win since 1992 at Navarre

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Move on fast. And give Na’Haviya Paxton some help. Those have been the messages Columbia coach Anthony Perry has delivered to his team this week as it prepares for a long road trip to Navarre in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals tonight.