Sports

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

Ken Jackson
Thursday, February 26, 2026
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

J. Daniel Pearson And Ken Jackson
Thursday, February 26, 2026
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

Mario Casamalhuapa
Sunday, February 22, 2026
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

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, February 22, 2026
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

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, February 20, 2026
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.
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.
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