Sports

Partners Peyton Williams and Andrew Bradbury celebrate after helping their athletes again win the Florida Unified Basketball state championship (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Partners Peyton Williams and Andrew Bradbury celebrate after helping their athletes again win the Florida Unified Basketball state championship (Photo/Taylor McFee)

St. Cloud Unified Basketball State Champs Again!

St. Cloud High Athletics Director Bryan Smart will have to find room for another state championship banner.
Orlando City's David Brekalo tries to score and is held back by the Inter Miami defense in Saturday's 4-2 Miami win at Inter&Co Stadium. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

Orlando City's David Brekalo tries to score and is held back by the Inter Miami defense in Saturday's 4-2 Miami win at Inter&Co Stadium. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

Saturday turns Mess-i for Orlando City

Orlando City SC learned a painful lesson about finishing the job Sunday night at Inter&Co Stadium, watching a comfortable two-goal lead dissolve into a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in a wild, six-goal Florida Derby that left the Lions at 0-2 in the young 2026 MLS...
Alex Morales, added to the Orlando Magic roster as a two-way player last week, drives to the basket Friday in Osceola's 128-111 win over the Cleveland Charge at the Kia Center in Orlando. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Alex Morales, added to the Orlando Magic roster as a two-way player last week, drives to the basket Friday in Osceola's 128-111 win over the Cleveland Charge at the Kia Center in Orlando. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Osceola Magic win in rare Kia Center appearance

Thanks to rough weather in the Midwest this week, the Osceola Magic got to play on the Orlando Magic's floor at the Kia Center Friday.
Gateway celebrates its second regional girls basketball championship with its loud student section crowd after Friday's 61-51 win over New Smyrna Beach. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Gateway celebrates its second regional girls basketball championship with its loud student section crowd after Friday's 61-51 win over New Smyrna Beach. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Panther Power! Gateway back in girls hoops Final 4

Gateway hoops fans, find your way to Jacksonville. You've got over a week.The Lady Panthers did just that Friday.
Senior outfielder Grace Comiskey (sliding into third in last year’s district championship game) is one of the returning cogs in the St. Cloud Bulldogs lineup as they try to defend Orange Belt Conference and District 7A-6 titles. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Senior outfielder Grace Comiskey (sliding into third in last year’s district championship game) is one of the returning cogs in the St. Cloud Bulldogs lineup as they try to defend Orange Belt Conference and District 7A-6 titles. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

SOFTBALL PREVIEW — OBC: A three-way race again?

Osceola, Harmony or St. Cloud has claimed all but one of the Orange Belt Conference softball championships since 1992. It’s a pretty good guess nothing will change in 2026, as both Osceola and St.
St. Cloud Unified basketball coaches John Stump and Braxton Ansbaugh talk with players during a recent game. (Submitted Photo)

St. Cloud Unified basketball coaches John Stump and Braxton Ansbaugh talk with players during a recent game. (Submitted Photo)

St. Cloud High hosting—and playing in— state Unified Basketball championship Saturday

St. Cloud will host—and again play in—the FHSAA Special Olympics Unified Basketball State Championships this weekend.The Bulldogs, the 2016, 2022 and 2024 state champs, will play Vero Beach on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Division 2 title game.
The Gateway Panthers and point guard Alyssa Marino aim high, just like going for this loose ball, at a return trip to the Class 5A state tournament; a win Friday against New Smyrna Beach gets them there. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

The Gateway Panthers and point guard Alyssa Marino aim high, just like going for this loose ball, at a return trip to the Class 5A state tournament; a win Friday against New Smyrna Beach gets them there. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway 4 quarters from return to Final 4

A pair of convincing regional playoff victories set up the Gateway girls basketball team with a shot—the only one left among all Osceola County teams—at reaching the FHSAA state tournament in Jacksonville.
Marco Pašalić and the Orlando City Soccer Club played a physical match to open the MLS season, won by the visitors, 2-1. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

Marco Pašalić and the Orlando City Soccer Club played a physical match to open the MLS season, won by the visitors, 2-1. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

MLS OPENER — Tiago's strike not enough as Red Bulls Edge Orlando

In the 2026 Major League Soccer season opener for both teams, New York Red Bulls held on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium, with Julian Hall's early strike and resolute defending enough to withstand a late Lions fightback that culminated in Tiago's dramatic...
Osceola's Luke McCrimon drives to the hoop for two of his 20 points in Saturday's 63-62 Class 7A regional semifinal loss to Tampa Plant. He and Jordan Mason (in the background) played their last games for the Kowboys. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Osceola's Luke McCrimon drives to the hoop for two of his 20 points in Saturday's 63-62 Class 7A regional semifinal loss to Tampa Plant. He and Jordan Mason (in the background) played their last games for the Kowboys. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Regional semifinal battles come down to crunch time

A frantic fourth period comeback fell one point short on Saturday night as Tampa Plant downed Osceola, 63-62, in a Class 7A, Region 3 semifinal on Nate Alexander Court.
Sophomore Bella Davila scored 14 points in Gateway's 67-34 Class 5A regional semifinal playoff win Friday over Leesburg. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Sophomore Bella Davila scored 14 points in Gateway's 67-34 Class 5A regional semifinal playoff win Friday over Leesburg. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway now just four quarters from the Final 4

The Gateway Panthers (25-3) got exactly what they wanted Friday – a convincing 67-34 win over Leesburg (12-10) and a home game next week in the Class 5A girls regional basketball finals.