Sports

Branford setter Andi Sabourin is the LCR’s Volleyball Player of the Year. (ERIN ROBERTS/Special to the Reporter)

Branford setter Andi Sabourin is the LCR’s Volleyball Player of the Year. (ERIN ROBERTS/Special to the Reporter)

FALL ALL-AREA: Branford setter Andi Sabourin named LCR's Volleyball Player of the Year

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, January 9, 2025
BRANFORD — Andi Sabourin didn’t think much of it at the time. But the Buccaneers’ senior setter was having the match of her career. Going up against defending champion Baker in the state semifinals, Sabourin left no room to doubt her status as perhaps the best setter in team history.
Columbia's Cody Bass dribbles up the field against Suwannee on Dec. 11. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Cody Bass dribbles up the field against Suwannee on Dec. 11. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: CHS boys tie Ridgeview, girls shut out Suwannee

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
BOYS SOCCER — Columbia 2, Ridgeview 2: Cody Bass and Nathan Matsubara each scored a goal but the Tigers (7-2-3) only came away with a draw against the Panthers (5-6-1) on Senior Night on Wednesday, snapping their 5-match win streak.
Columbia’s Casey Fair is the LCR’s Girls Swimmer of the Year. (JODY SHEEHAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Casey Fair is the LCR’s Girls Swimmer of the Year. (JODY SHEEHAN/Special to the Reporter)

FALL ALL-AREA: Columbia's Casey Fair named LCR's Girls Swimmer of the Year

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Casey Fair didn’t swim the 100 backstroke at a single meet during the regular season. But that gave the Columbia senior a chance to catch her opponents by surprise at the District 2-3A meet, especially since she swam the event regularly for her club team, the Columbia Swim Team Tiger Sharks.
Suwannee goalkeeper AJ Hitt dives to try and save a shot against Columbia on Dec. 11. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee goalkeeper AJ Hitt dives to try and save a shot against Columbia on Dec. 11. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Suwannee boys suffer 11th straight loss

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
BOYS SOCCER — Gainesville 2, Suwannee 1: The Hurricanes (3-4-3) handed the Bulldogs (2-14-1) their 11th straight loss Tuesday night, putting two goals past goalkeeper AJ Hitt in Live Oak. Hitt finished with five saves, while Ethan Valencia scored Suwannee’s lone goal on an assist from Denzel Yaxon.
Columbia guard Eriel Baker is double teamed by Gainesville's Mayah Gordon (22) and Lady Taylor during Tuesday night's 53-27 loss. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Eriel Baker is double teamed by Gainesville's Mayah Gordon (22) and Lady Taylor during Tuesday night's 53-27 loss. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Columbia's playoff hopes take a hit in blowout loss to Gainesville

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
GAINESVILLE — It was Columbia’s biggest game of the season to date. The Tigers had a chance to pick up a resume-building win and improve their playoff chances against one of the best teams in the region. Instead, they never “showed up” against their District 2-5A rival.
Columbia guard Zamarion Jones dribbles past Forest guard Elijah Leon during the Hitchcock’s Challenge championship on Dec. 29 at Legacy Park in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Zamarion Jones dribbles past Forest guard Elijah Leon during the Hitchcock’s Challenge championship on Dec. 29 at Legacy Park in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: Columbia boys rise in latest FHSAA basketball rankings

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Columbia’s boys basketball team is rising. A 59-56 win over Orange Park on Saturday boosted the Tigers (10-6) from sixth to fourth in Region 1-5A, with their rating rising to 13.299 to jump ahead of Lincoln (10-5, 12.818) and St. Augustine (9-2, 12.377).
Lafayette's Carra Clark tries to get past Columba's Jenavieve Farer on Dec. 2. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Lafayette's Carra Clark tries to get past Columba's Jenavieve Farer on Dec. 2. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Fort White & Lafayette girls pick up soccer wins

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
BOYS SOCCER — Eastside 3, Fort White 0: Jonas Traktuev scored two goals and Lorenzo Lattarulo scored another for the Rams (5-4-5) to hand the Indians (0-14) another loss at home on Monday night.