Sports

Columbia guard Eriel Baker dribbles up the court on a fast break against Oakleaf on Jan. 29. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Eriel Baker dribbles up the court on a fast break against Oakleaf on Jan. 29. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lincoln pulls away from Columbia late in District 2-5A semifinals

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Columbia trailed Lincoln by just two points midway through the fourth quarter. But when center Dariyan Williams fouled out, it allowed the Trojans to pull away. Without Williams anchoring the paint, No. 2 seed Lincoln pulled away from No.
Columbia guard Zamarion Jones dribbles up the court against Santa Fe on Jan. 24. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Zamarion Jones dribbles up the court against Santa Fe on Jan. 24. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia can't climb back against Leon in District 2-5A semis

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Columbia could never climb back from a double-digit deficit. Now the Tigers await their playoff fate. No. 3 seed Columbia trailed by double digits for most of the second half and eventually fell to No. 2 seed Leon 61-48 in the District 2-5A semifinals at Leon on Wednesday night.
Columbia kicker Rolando Dominguez Jayo (from left), offensive lineman Chase Johnson, offensive lineman Kiaran Broomfield, defensive lineman Caden Bolstein and linebacker Chris Jordan signed letters of intent to play collegiately on Wednesday. Dominguez Jayo and Broomfield are headed to Ripon College, while Johnson and Bolstein will play at Tuskegee and Jordan will suit up for Faulkner. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia kicker Rolando Dominguez Jayo (from left), offensive lineman Chase Johnson, offensive lineman Kiaran Broomfield, defensive lineman Caden Bolstein and linebacker Chris Jordan signed letters of intent to play collegiately on Wednesday. Dominguez Jayo and Broomfield are headed to Ripon College, while Johnson and Bolstein will play at Tuskegee and Jordan will suit up for Faulkner. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: 5 from Columbia sign with colleges

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Offensive lineman Chase Johnson and defensive tackle Caden Bolstein had countless battles on the practice field this year at Columbia. The duo will continue to do so at the next level too.
Fort White receiver Tafari Moe (center) signs his letter of intent to play football at Harvard University on Wednesday morning flanked by his parents, Russel (left) and Loretta (right). (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White receiver Tafari Moe (center) signs his letter of intent to play football at Harvard University on Wednesday morning flanked by his parents, Russel (left) and Loretta (right). (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White receiver Tafari Moe inks letter to play at Harvard

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
FORT WHITE — One of Fort White’s most dynamic playmakers on both the football field and basketball court is officially college-bound. Tafari Moe signed his letter of intent to continue his football career at Harvard University during National Signing Day at FWHS on Wednesday morning.
Columbia’s boys tennis team. (COURTESY)

Columbia’s boys tennis team. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia tennis teams top Ridgeview in openers

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Columbia's tennis teams rolled to a pair of road wins over Ridgeview in their season openers Tuesday, with the boys sweeping a 7-0 victory and the girls coming away with a 5-2 win. BOYS Singles — CHS No. 1 Colten Mitchel d. Parker Ross 8-1 — CHS No. 2 Daniel Zheng d. Joshua Chun, — CHS No.
Columbia pitcher/infielder Ayden Phillips enters his senior season as the reigning LCR Player of the Year following a 2024 campaign where led the Tigers with a 0.71 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings while hitting .450 with 31 RBIs and six home runs. (FILE)

Columbia pitcher/infielder Ayden Phillips enters his senior season as the reigning LCR Player of the Year following a 2024 campaign where led the Tigers with a 0.71 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings while hitting .450 with 31 RBIs and six home runs. (FILE)

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Columbia, Suwannee & Lafayette enter 2025 with high expectations

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
The high school baseball season gets underway next Monday. Here is a look at how the teams at Columbia, Suwannee, Lafayette, Fort White and Branford stack up this season, which features new districts as well as a new best-of-playoff series format.
Suwannee’s Courtney Neal finishes her clean and jerk rep at the District 4-1A meet on Jan. 24. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee’s Courtney Neal finishes her clean and jerk rep at the District 4-1A meet on Jan. 24. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee posts pair of runner-up finishes at regionals, Branford wins title in Olympic

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Suwannee and Wewahitchka were on the verge of a tie for first place in traditional at the Region 1-1A meet on Saturday. But two final lifts turned out to be the tiebreaker, and they didn’t even involve either school.