Sports

Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas addresses his team after a nail-biting 41-35 victory in Gainesville over Buchholz High School. The Kowboys will play for it all—the Class 6A state championship—against West Boca Raton at Florida International University. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas addresses his team after a nail-biting 41-35 victory in Gainesville over Buchholz High School. The Kowboys will play for it all—the Class 6A state championship—against West Boca Raton at Florida International University. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

A DATE AT STATE — There's a lot of 'dog in Kowboys' 'D'

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
See more on Osceola High’s drive for its second state championship in Sports on Thursday.Perhaps it’s only fitting that Osceola High will be playing for the state championship this week at Pitbull Stadium.
Harmony High is the defending OBC girls soccer tournament champion, and will host on Monday (Poinciana) and Tuesday (Toho or Gateway) as the No. 2 seed. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Harmony High is the defending OBC girls soccer tournament champion, and will host on Monday (Poinciana) and Tuesday (Toho or Gateway) as the No. 2 seed. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

OBC girls soccer tournament next week; Celebration, Harmony top seeds

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, December 6, 2024
Celebration will be the top seed, but defending champion Harmony should not be counted out as the 2024-25 Orange Belt Conference girls soccer championship will contested next week.The Storm will host top bracket games; and second-seeded Harmony will host lower bracket games during Monday’s...
Catch Major League Fishing's General Tire Heavy Hitters Special Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes on Sunday on CBS. PHOTO/MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING

Catch Major League Fishing's General Tire Heavy Hitters Special Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes on Sunday on CBS. PHOTO/MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING

Catch Major League Fishing's all-star action from Kissimmee Sunday on CBS

News Staff
Friday, December 6, 2024
This weekend, check out the best of professional fishing on the area's local renowned-for-bass-fishing lakes.On Sunday, Dec. 8, Major League Fishing (MLF)’s General Tire Heavy Hitters Special Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes will premiere nationwide on CBS...
With Coach Eric Pinellas in the background, (from left) Elijah Melendez (Auburn), Robert Lee (FAU), Connor Howse (Ole Miss) and Taevion Swint prepare to make their college choices known. Swint ended up delaying his announcement. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

With Coach Eric Pinellas in the background, (from left) Elijah Melendez (Auburn), Robert Lee (FAU), Connor Howse (Ole Miss) and Taevion Swint prepare to make their college choices known. Swint ended up delaying his announcement. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Signing Day at Osceola: one flip, one delay, but two are signed and on their way

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, December 6, 2024
Playing Buchholz High Friday night for an opportunity to get to the FHSAA Class 6A State Championship Game may be the immediate concern for the Osceola Kowboys, but Thursday was the day to look into the future for four talented players.In a Thursday afternoon assembly, seniors Connor Howes, Robert...
Harmony returns several veterans from its district runnerup team a year ago such as Dali Velez (24). PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Harmony returns several veterans from its district runnerup team a year ago such as Dali Velez (24). PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW — Can Panthers unseat the Bulldogs in the county?

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Over the past couple of seasons, Gateway’s basketball team has accomplished a lot—20-win seasons, district championships, a regional championship and a trip to the State Final Four are on the Panthers resume.What’s missing for the Class 5A school?
A cast of characters: (From left), returning Osceola Magic players Mac McClung and Trevelin Queen are joined this year by the likes of Ethan Thompson, Jalen Slawson and Jarrett Culver. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

A cast of characters: (From left), returning Osceola Magic players Mac McClung and Trevelin Queen are joined this year by the likes of Ethan Thompson, Jalen Slawson and Jarrett Culver. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Osceola Magic return to the Silver Spurs; three home games this week

Ken Jackson
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
After nearly a month away, the Osceola Magic return to the Silver Spurs Arena this weekend for a week-long, three-game home stand. Osceola has gotten off to a slow start to the 2024-25 NBA G League campaign, but moved to 4-6 with a 114-92 win Wednesday over the Birmingham Squadron.
It was the defensive effort of the Osceola Kowboys and the running of senior Taevion Swint (139 yards, two touchdowns) that powered OHS into Friday’s Class 6A state semifinal at Gainesville Buchholz. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

It was the defensive effort of the Osceola Kowboys and the running of senior Taevion Swint (139 yards, two touchdowns) that powered OHS into Friday’s Class 6A state semifinal at Gainesville Buchholz. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

CLASS 6A STATE SEMIFINALS — Buchholz stands between Kowboys and title game

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
It’s been since the wild 2020 “season of COVID” that Osceola last played in an FHSAA state championship game. If the Kowboys (11-2) want to change that, they will have to get by the Buchholz Bobcats (10-3) on the road Friday night.
Coach Tommy Billiteri discussed 4th quarter strategy with his team; the Bulldogs came back for a 59-58 win over Lake Highland Prep Tuesday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Coach Tommy Billiteri discussed 4th quarter strategy with his team; the Bulldogs came back for a 59-58 win over Lake Highland Prep Tuesday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Bulldogs battle back, beat Lake Highland, move to 5-0

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Trailing by double digits midway through the third period, St. Cloud basketball teams of the past most likely would have faded away and got blown out.But this is not your daddy’s Bulldog team.
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