Sports

Columbia's Brendan Schwartz (left) and Lafayette's Elder Santiago (right) battle for possession of the ball on Dec. 2. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Brendan Schwartz (left) and Lafayette's Elder Santiago (right) battle for possession of the ball on Dec. 2. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOCCER: Columbia squads on playoff bubble in first FHSAA rankings

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Despite good starts to the season, the Columbia soccer teams sit on the playoff bubble more than halfway through their campaigns. The FHSAA released its first soccer rankings on Tuesday and the CHS squads weren’t seeded as high as they may have expected.
Columbia guard Zamarion Jones is fouled by Santa Fe guard Cedric Collins while making the go-ahead layup in the final minute of Friday’s 62-57 win. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Zamarion Jones is fouled by Santa Fe guard Cedric Collins while making the go-ahead layup in the final minute of Friday’s 62-57 win. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Jones’ late steal, layup helps Columbia rally past Santa Fe

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, December 13, 2024
With a chance to take the lead, Columbia guard Shaheed White was called for a travel with 31.2 seconds left. Santa Fe, nursing a one-point lead, called timeout, giving CHS coach Steve Faulkner a chance to remind the Tigers they had a foul to give. His message? Try to trap and force a steal.
Fort White guard Tafari Moe is bracketed by Newberry defenders during Friday’s 59-45 loss. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Tafari Moe is bracketed by Newberry defenders during Friday’s 59-45 loss. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASKETBALL: Fort White boys, girls split with Newberry

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 13, 2024
NEWBERRY — With time ticking down in the first half and already at an 18-point disadvantage, Fort White still fought hard on the defensive end. If the defense was a little looser, the resulting 21-point deficit might not have existed.
Columbia's Cody Bass dribbles up the field past Suwannee's Denzel Yaxon on Wednesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Cody Bass dribbles up the field past Suwannee's Denzel Yaxon on Wednesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS SOCCER: Columbia wins fifth in a row, hands Suwannee sixth straight loss

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Columbia coach Ed Turner was surprised to hear his team had won five straight. He’s just trying to take it one match at a time, but he believes if the Tigers play to their full potential, they can be a special group.
Former Suwannee High track coach Ron Hall was recognized by the Suwannee County School Board at its Tuesday meeting. The district is naming the renovated SHS track complex after Hall, who coached there for 20 years and won the school’s only state track title. Joining Hall are grandchildren McKenna Burnett (front row, from left), Kynzie Hall, Claire Burnett and Kooper Hall; children Casi Burnett (back row, from left) and Kyler Hall and Superintendent Ronnie Gray. (COURTESY)

Former Suwannee High track coach Ron Hall was recognized by the Suwannee County School Board at its Tuesday meeting. The district is naming the renovated SHS track complex after Hall, who coached there for 20 years and won the school’s only state track title. Joining Hall are grandchildren McKenna Burnett (front row, from left), Kynzie Hall, Claire Burnett and Kooper Hall; children Casi Burnett (back row, from left) and Kyler Hall and Superintendent Ronnie Gray. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Suwannee recognizes Ron Hall for track naming

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
LIVE OAK — Suwannee High’s track not only has a new look, but a new name as well. After the Suwannee County School Board approved renaming the renovated track complex after former coach Ron Hall in September, it honored the namesake at its meeting Tuesday night.
Columbia guard Gavin Broomfield (left) and forward Xavier Collins (14) celebrate after the Tigers rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Buchholz 54-49 on Tuesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Gavin Broomfield (left) and forward Xavier Collins (14) celebrate after the Tigers rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat Buchholz 54-49 on Tuesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia rallies from 13 down to edge Buchholz in OT

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Columbia coach Steve Faulkner dropped to his knees. He couldn’t believe it. With the Tigers trailing Buchholz by three and the clock ticking down at the end of regulation, Faulkner called timeout when they couldn’t get off a shot. Except right after he called it, Zamarion Jones swished one through.
Suwannee’s Quez Jones drives to the basket against Lafayette’s Jadarius McQuay in the second half of Tuesday’s game. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee’s Quez Jones drives to the basket against Lafayette’s Jadarius McQuay in the second half of Tuesday’s game. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Suwannee's fast start downs Lafayette

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
LIVE OAK — A hectic first quarter — one that favored Suwannee — could’ve set the tone for the rest of the night. The Bulldogs got out in transition early and often, forcing Lafayette turnovers and getting some easy scores.