Sports

The Gateway Panthers huddle up after defending their Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship with a 64-29 win over Harmony Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

The Gateway Panthers huddle up after defending their Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship with a 64-29 win over Harmony Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

OBC BASKETBALL — Osceola fends off St. Cloud for boys title; challenges await Gateway girls after defending theirs

While Senior Jordan Mason scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Osceola Kowboys to their second straight Orange Belt conference championship with a 73-60 win over rival St.
In 2025 Middle Tennessee State signee Bryce Williams of St. Cloud was a headache for opposing teams—offense and defense—and for where to place him on the News-Gazette All-County team. He settled in at Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

In 2025 Middle Tennessee State signee Bryce Williams of St. Cloud was a headache for opposing teams—offense and defense—and for where to place him on the News-Gazette All-County team. He settled in at Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL DEFENSE: Bryce Williams led the Bulldogs — in many ways

Naming St. Cloud’s Bryce Williams to the All-County Football Team was the easy part. Trying to decide to name him MVP of the defensive team, offensive team or special teams unit was a much tougher choice.
Harmony (in white) defeated Tohopekaliga, 48-25, Wednesday to advance to Friday's OBC girls championship game against host Gateway at 5 p.m. (Photo/Katie Williams)

Harmony (in white) defeated Tohopekaliga, 48-25, Wednesday to advance to Friday's OBC girls championship game against host Gateway at 5 p.m. (Photo/Katie Williams)

Orange Belt Conference basketball tournaments — boys and girls game scores, times, locations

Here's a list of game scores, times and locations for the boys and girls Orange Belt Conference basketball tournaments this week: Monday's boys scoresOsceola 95, Gateway 37Harmony 61, Tohopekaliga 51St.
The Gateway Lady Panthers and Osceola Kowboys will be the top seeds as they look to defend their OBC basketball titles next week.

The Gateway Lady Panthers and Osceola Kowboys will be the top seeds as they look to defend their OBC basketball titles next week.

Panthers, Kowboys favorites to defend OBC hoops titles

The Orange Belt Conference boys and girls basketball tournaments get under way on Monday, and the Gateway Lady Panthers and Osceola Kowboys will be the top seeds as they look to defend their titles.Gateway, who won their first OBC title in school history and broke St.
Cate Palmi was incredible, now owning the Central Florida career kills record, in a four-year span that was incredible for Osceola, with four OBC and district titles and three Class 7A regional championships. Photo/Taylor McFee.

Cate Palmi was incredible, now owning the Central Florida career kills record, in a four-year span that was incredible for Osceola, with four OBC and district titles and three Class 7A regional championships. Photo/Taylor McFee.

ALL COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL — Palmi and Kowboys dominant again

Osceola High once again dominated the county girls’ volleyball scene, in a year that Kowboy Cate Palmi closes out her own dominate career on the court.
Javonte Smart (1) and Alex Morales were away from the Osceola Magic for two games while playing for their home countries in the Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA) World Cup qualifying tournament. (Photos/Taylor McFee)

Javonte Smart (1) and Alex Morales were away from the Osceola Magic for two games while playing for their home countries in the Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA) World Cup qualifying tournament. (Photos/Taylor McFee)

Smart, Morales patriotic competing in the FIBA World Cup

Osceola Magic guard Javonte Smart found some great Christmas gifts for his family this year. He brought back genuine used Team USA jerseys after playing for the team as it won the first two games of the Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA) World Cup qualifying tournament.
Half of the 14 Knockout Wrestling Tournament boys champions came from outside of Florida, while all but one of the 14 girls champions hailed from the Sunshine State. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

Half of the 14 Knockout Wrestling Tournament boys champions came from outside of Florida, while all but one of the 14 girls champions hailed from the Sunshine State. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

Camden, Freedom dominate 14th Knockout Classic

Camden (Ga.) captured three championships and placed nine wrestlers on the podium to run away with the team title at the 14th Annual Knockout Christmas Classic wrestling tournament at Silver Spurs Arena.Orlando’s Freedom High outdistanced Viera (148-106) for the girls’ team title.