Sports

Columbia forward Zavian Douglas gathers the ball to shoot against Forest in the Hitchcock's Challenge championship on Dec. 29. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia forward Zavian Douglas gathers the ball to shoot against Forest in the Hitchcock's Challenge championship on Dec. 29. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia boys edge Orange Park in hoops for fifth straight win

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, January 4, 2025
BOYS BASKETBALL — Columbia 59, Orange Park 56: Zavian Douglas scored 17 points and Shaheed White finished with 14 points to lead the Tigers (10-6) past the Raiders (6-8) in the Raider Dome Classic for their fifth straight win.
Suwannee freshman Logan Haley is the LCR’s Boys Runner of the Year. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee freshman Logan Haley is the LCR’s Boys Runner of the Year. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

FALL ALL-AREA: Suwannee's Logan Haley named LCR's Boys Runner of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, January 4, 2025
LIVE OAK — It definitely wasn’t love at first race. In fact, when Logan Haley began running cross country for the club team at Suwannee Middle School two years ago, he wasn’t good, he didn’t like it and he wanted to quit.
Suwannee junior Ryleigh Hermanson is the LCR’s Girls Runner of the Year. (COURTESY)

Suwannee junior Ryleigh Hermanson is the LCR’s Girls Runner of the Year. (COURTESY)

FALL ALL-AREA: Suwannee's Ryleigh Hermanson named LCR's Girls Runner of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, January 4, 2025
LIVE OAK — It wasn’t good and Ryleigh Hermanson wasn’t happy. In early October, the Suwannee junior placed 16th at the Alligator Lake Invitational, crossing the finish line in 23:17.20. It wasn’t the kind of race that Hermanson — or the Suwannee team — had come to expect from their top runner.
Fort White guard Tafari Moe tries to get off a shot while defended by Lafayette guard Jordan Murphy on Dec. 5. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Tafari Moe tries to get off a shot while defended by Lafayette guard Jordan Murphy on Dec. 5. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Fort White's basketball teams split with Santa Fe

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 3, 2025
FORT WHITE — The Fort White basketball teams split their home matchups with Santa Fe on Friday night, with the girls winning 64-18 while the boys lost 54-50.
Columbia forward Zavian Douglas shoots over Forest forward Isaac Timmons during the Hitchcock’s Challenge championship on Sunday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia forward Zavian Douglas shoots over Forest forward Isaac Timmons during the Hitchcock’s Challenge championship on Sunday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: FHSAA releases first basketball rankings, updates soccer

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Fresh off winning the Hitchcock’s Challenge, Columbia’s boys basketball team sits in playoff position in the first FHSAA rankings. The Tigers (9-6) were sixth in Region 1-5A and third in District 2 in the first basketball release Tuesday, holding a 12.
Suwannee’s Dawson Wooley is the LCR’s Boys Golfer of the Year. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s Dawson Wooley is the LCR’s Boys Golfer of the Year. (COURTESY)

FALL ALL-AREA: Suwannee's Dawson Wooley named LCR's Boys Golfer of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
LIVE OAK — The toughness and grit that Suwannee coach Damon Wooley preaches about his program was personified early this past season. The night before the Bulldogs teed off their season at the Ancient City Classic at Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine, they were dealt a bad break.
Columbia guard Murkail Cray makes a layup after coming away with a steal for the final points in a 41-36 win over Forest in the Hitchcock's Challenge championship on Sunday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Murkail Cray makes a layup after coming away with a steal for the final points in a 41-36 win over Forest in the Hitchcock's Challenge championship on Sunday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia knocks off Forest to win Hitchcock's Challenge championship

JORDAN KROEGER
Sunday, December 29, 2024
ALACHUA — Forest had a chance to tie the game late, but just like they had for most of the second half, Murkail Cray and the Columbia’s defense made one last game-winning play.
Fort White coach Elven Sheppard talks to his team in a timeout during a game against Lafayette on Dec. 5. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White coach Elven Sheppard talks to his team in a timeout during a game against Lafayette on Dec. 5. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Fort White splits pair of games at Florida Get Down

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, December 29, 2024
GAINESVILLE — Fort White split its two games at the Florida Get Down at Santa Fe College this weekend. Friday saw the Indians (4-3) fall to Hawthorne 63-61 despite 23 points from Kendall Henry and 15 points from Jayden Jackson.