Sports

Champs Again! With 37 of 40 lifters scoring points, St. Cloud rolled to its 15th consecutive Orange Belt Conference Girls weightlifting championship, edging rival Harmony, 159-122. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH

Champs Again! With 37 of 40 lifters scoring points, St. Cloud rolled to its 15th consecutive Orange Belt Conference Girls weightlifting championship, edging rival Harmony, 159-122. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH

Lady Bulldogs repeat as OBC champions

Once again, St. Cloud sits on top of the Orange Belt Conference in girls’ weightlifting.
Hard nosed defense and big second-half buckets led the Osceola Kowboys to the 2024 Orange Belt Conference boys basketball title. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Hard nosed defense and big second-half buckets led the Osceola Kowboys to the 2024 Orange Belt Conference boys basketball title. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Defense, Isaac lead Kowboys to OBC hoops crown

Osceola used a smothering fourth quarter defense and 22 points from Jordan Isaac to slip by St. Cloud, 62-57, in the Orange Belt Conference boys basketball championship game at a packed Bob Baker Gym at Gateway High Friday.The Kowboys, now 19-1, entered the tournament as the No.
Middle linebacker Elijah Melendez anchored the Kowboys defense for a 12-3 team that allowed just over 12 points per game in the regular season against a schedule that included nine playoff teams. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Middle linebacker Elijah Melendez anchored the Kowboys defense for a 12-3 team that allowed just over 12 points per game in the regular season against a schedule that included nine playoff teams. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL DEFENSE — Melendez anchored tough Kowboys defense

By Osceola standards, 2023 was a rough year. Despite winning their district and made the state playoffs, the Kowboys finished with an uncharacteristic 4-7 record. And while many factors contributed, injuries to key players have to be at the top of the list.
Poinciana and St. Cloud will be among a number of teams that could be in the mix to win next week’s Orange Belt Conference boys basketball tournament. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Poinciana and St. Cloud will be among a number of teams that could be in the mix to win next week’s Orange Belt Conference boys basketball tournament. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Deep field for next week’s OBC boys hoops tourney

Historically, it’s been Osceola High and everyone else when it comes to boys’ basketball in the county. The Kowboys own three state championships, a state runner-up and numerous Orange Belt Conference, district, and regional titles.
Osceola running back Taevion Swint hopes to make college defenders miss at UCF like he did on this play in the Class 6A state title game against West Boca Raton. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

Osceola running back Taevion Swint hopes to make college defenders miss at UCF like he did on this play in the Class 6A state title game against West Boca Raton. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFENSE: Swint carried Kowboys to 6A title game

Osceola running back Taevion Swint, who piled up mind-boggling stats in his senior year against some of the best teams in Florida, is the 2024 Osceola News Gazette’s Offensive Player of the Year.
With some of the Orlando Magic's starters out with injuries, Trevelin Queen, a key piece for the NBA G League's Osceola Magic, has kept the NBA aside afloat. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

With some of the Orlando Magic's starters out with injuries, Trevelin Queen, a key piece for the NBA G League's Osceola Magic, has kept the NBA aside afloat. PHOTO/TAYLOR MCFEE

THE SPORTS COLUMN: Orlando Magic staying afloat despite piling-up injuries

This is the first installment of a sports column by former Osceola County School Board member (and sports fanatic) Jay Wheeler. What should we call this?
Osceola’s Luke McCrimon (with the ball) gets ready to set up a play against Ovideo’s Cameron Bryant (3). The Kowboys won the game 60-45. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Osceola’s Luke McCrimon (with the ball) gets ready to set up a play against Ovideo’s Cameron Bryant (3). The Kowboys won the game 60-45. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Jordans lead Kowboys to Invitational hoops win

Jordan Mason and Jordan Isaac combined for 38 points to pace Osceola to a 60-45 win over Oviedo in the championship game of the Kowboy Holiday Invitation Saturday night. The win pushed the Kowboys to 12-1; while Oviedo dropped to 7-6. Jones defeated Cypress Creek in the third-place game.