Sports

St. Cloud’s Adrian Carradero slides into home under a Harmony throw at last week’s Mike Fields Preseason Classic. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

St. Cloud’s Adrian Carradero slides into home under a Harmony throw at last week’s Mike Fields Preseason Classic. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

OSCEOLA COUNTY BASEBALL PREVIEW — Can young Harmony stay on top?

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Ric Flair once proclaimed, “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” When it comes to high school baseball in Osceola County for the past couple of years, Harmony has been “the man.
Winning the ball in the air, like this play in December's Orange Belt Conference tournament, has been key for defenders and midfielders like David Sabogal (2), Jesus Linares (3), Augusto Bustamonte (6), Luisangel Moreno (10) and Keandre Octave (22). (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Winning the ball in the air, like this play in December's Orange Belt Conference tournament, has been key for defenders and midfielders like David Sabogal (2), Jesus Linares (3), Augusto Bustamonte (6), Luisangel Moreno (10) and Keandre Octave (22). (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway reaches boys soccer regional final for 1st time; one win from Final 4

Ken Jackson
Monday, February 16, 2026
Quietly, and as road warriors, Gateway's boys soccer team has made history this season, with more possibly to come.Thanks to a pair of 2-1 wins, over Auburndale and New Smyrna Beach, in the Class 5A regional playoffs, the Panthers (12-2-4) will play in their first-ever regional final Tuesday at 7 p.
Osceola's Jahmel Hill drives to the basket against Sarasota Riverview defenders in Saturday's 90-52 win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Osceola's Jahmel Hill drives to the basket against Sarasota Riverview defenders in Saturday's 90-52 win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Osceola smothers Sarasota Riverview, Plant rematch up next

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Osceola used a smothering defense to force 19 turnovers and eliminate  Sarasota Riverview from the Region 7A-3 playoffs with a 90-52 victory Saturday. The win gives the Kowboys another home playoff game next Saturday.
Gateway point guard Alyssa Marino, shown in the district championship win over New Smyrna Beach, overcame early foul trouble to score 13 points in the Panthers' 59-19 playoff win over Fivay. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway point guard Alyssa Marino, shown in the district championship win over New Smyrna Beach, overcame early foul trouble to score 13 points in the Panthers' 59-19 playoff win over Fivay. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway opens girls basketball regional playoffs with big win

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, February 13, 2026
Looking very much like the No. 1 regional seed, the Gateway Panthers rolled to a stress-free 59-19 win over visiting Fivay, in the Region 5A-2 quarterfinals Friday.Meanwhile, in Class 7A, District 7A-6 champion Harmony (18-6) played Oak Ridge (20-6) tough, but fell, 60-52.
Lester Quiñones has started all 31 games spanning the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season for the Orlando Magic while averaging 22 points. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Lester Quiñones has started all 31 games spanning the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season for the Orlando Magic while averaging 22 points. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Osceola Magic's Lester Quinones has shown why he's an NBA G League All-Star

News Staff
Sunday, February 8, 2026
The NBA G League announced during the team's home stand last week that Osceola Magic guard Lester Quiñones has been named to the NBA G League Next Up Game during the NBA All-Star weekend.The game will be on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m.
St. Cloud's Diomar Ortiz fights for a rebound and bucket in Saturday's District 7A-6 championship game, a 60-56 win over Lake Nona. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

St. Cloud's Diomar Ortiz fights for a rebound and bucket in Saturday's District 7A-6 championship game, a 60-56 win over Lake Nona. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Under-dogs no more — St. Cloud claims district title

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, February 8, 2026
St. Cloud ended decades of district losing and frustration with a heart-stopping, electric 60-56 road win over Lake Nona to claim the District 7A-6 championship Saturday for the Bulldogs’ first district title since 1971.“They were bigger, faster and more athletic that we were,” St.
Ashlynn Day scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished three assists — and had to work for them all — in a 51-46 district championship clinching win Friday over New Smyrna Beach. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Ashlynn Day scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished three assists — and had to work for them all — in a 51-46 district championship clinching win Friday over New Smyrna Beach. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

'Battle-tested' Gateway scores District 5A-7 title in gritty fashion

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, February 7, 2026
It was physical, it wasn’t particularly artistic, but in the end, Gateway’s girls hoops team got exactly what it wanted and needed – a district championship and home court advantage throughout the regional playoffs when they start next Friday with a come-from-behind win over New Smyrna Beach,...
A rite of February: Osceola High celebrated the college signings of seven Kowboys athletes during the "traditional" signing period Wednesday. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

A rite of February: Osceola High celebrated the college signings of seven Kowboys athletes during the "traditional" signing period Wednesday. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

Signing Day, Part 2: Osceola High sends seven more on to the next level

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, February 6, 2026
Led by All-County and All-OBC offensive lineman Marcus Ferrer, seven Osceola High  athletes made their college intentions known during a signing ceremony Wednesday in the school’s gymnasium.Ferrer will play his college football at West Florida University, a Division II power in Pensacola.
Harmony and Celebration, seen here in last week's District 7A-7 tournament final, both secured regional playoff wins Thursday, and will play on the road Wednesday (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Harmony and Celebration, seen here in last week's District 7A-7 tournament final, both secured regional playoff wins Thursday, and will play on the road Wednesday (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Cold weather, hot soccer in Thursday's regional playoff quarterfinals

Ken Jackson
Thursday, February 5, 2026
As the temperatures plummeted Thursday night, the soccer action heated up for Osceola County's two girls soccer teams in the Class 7A Region 2 playoffs.And, thanks to Celebration and Harmony's 2-0 wins over Vero Beach and Windermere, they'll keep burning up fields for another week.
We’re in the lead! Harmony’s girls soccer team claimed the OBC championship and eight precious points to help the Longhorns push into the All-Sports race lead. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

We’re in the lead! Harmony’s girls soccer team claimed the OBC championship and eight precious points to help the Longhorns push into the All-Sports race lead. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

Harmony surges into OBC All-Sports lead after hot winter

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Harmony High School made a major stride forward in re-capturing the Orange Belt Conference All-Sports Award thanks to a strong showing in the eight-sport winter sports season that ended with boys and girls wrestling this past week.
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