Sports

Columbia’s Kenney Gaines (4) goes up for a basket against Dillard during the second half of their Class 6A state semifinal at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Kenney Gaines (4) goes up for a basket against Dillard during the second half of their Class 6A state semifinal at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia seniors leave behind program-altering legacy

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, March 6, 2020
I know it hurts.  I know you’re devastated. You’ll feel that way for a while, but not forever. What will last forever is the legacy you’ve left behind at Columbia High School. Say what you want about Ivan Reynolds’ buzzer-beater at the end of the first overtime.
Columbia’s Charleston Ponds (3) and Darrien Jones (5), right, show their emotion after their double overtime loss to Dillard in the Class 6A semifinals at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Charleston Ponds (3) and Darrien Jones (5), right, show their emotion after their double overtime loss to Dillard in the Class 6A semifinals at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia falls to Dillard in double overtime in 6A state semis following controversial buzzer-beater

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, March 5, 2020
LAKELAND — Dillard believes the shot was good. Columbia coach Steve Faulkner says otherwise. The result led to a heartbreaking 71-66 loss for the Tigers in double overtime in the Class 6A state semifinals at the RP Funding Center.
Columbia guard Jordan Smith is lifted up by students and teammates after the Tigers defeated Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in last Friday's Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Jordan Smith is lifted up by students and teammates after the Tigers defeated Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in last Friday's Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Smith hopes to end career with state title in basketball after falling short in football

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
To this day, Jordan Smith still feels he had a state title taken away from him. In his junior season as Columbia’s quarterback, he led the football team to a 9-1 regular-season record, a district championship and the No. 1 seed in the region. But in Round 2 of the playoffs against Robert E.