Sports

St. Cloud's Danzigny Mantilla (23) surveys the Gateway defense during Friday's Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

St. Cloud's Danzigny Mantilla (23) surveys the Gateway defense during Friday's Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Mantilla does it all as Bulldogs defend OBC girls basketball title, 51-44

St. Cloud defended its Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship Friday, but it took four quarters of hard-fought, back-and-forth action for the game to be decided.
Mac McClung and the high-flying Osceola Magic set a franchise scoring record in Thursday's 153-130 win over the Westchester Knicks. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Mac McClung and the high-flying Osceola Magic set a franchise scoring record in Thursday's 153-130 win over the Westchester Knicks. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Osceola Magic go on record scoring binge, scorch Westchester, 153-130

This just in ... the Magic scored again. The Osceola Magic started a six-game home stand in scorching fashion, rewriting its own record books in a 153-130 win Thursday at the Silver Spurs Arena. Osceola (5-3) set NBA G League franchise records for points scored in a half and points in a game.
Miye Oni has been a contributor for the Osceola Magic for the entire season. He and the team return to the Silver Spurs Arena on Thursday to play the Westchester Knicks. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Miye Oni has been a contributor for the Osceola Magic for the entire season. He and the team return to the Silver Spurs Arena on Thursday to play the Westchester Knicks. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Osceola Magic start six-game home Spurs stand Thursday

After starting the “second regular season” of the NBA G League on a seven-game road trip, the Osceola Magic begin a stretch of seven home games in 18 games Thursday. The Magic, who went 4-3 on the road trip, hosts the Westchester Knicks at 7 p.m. at the Silver Spurs Arena.
Ashley Aun is not only favored in the OBC Championship in the 110-pound class, but should be a factor in the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting state championship next month (Photo courtesy St. Cloud High School)

Ashley Aun is not only favored in the OBC Championship in the 110-pound class, but should be a factor in the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting state championship next month (Photo courtesy St. Cloud High School)

OBC winter titles awarded this week in boys soccer, girls hoops and lifting

Coveted Orange Belt Conference team championships will be on the line this week, as titles will be determined in boys’ soccer, girls’ basketball and girls’ weightlifting.
Anderson Heap (left) locks up with Darian Monserrate of George Steinbrenner High Thursday. Heap, a two-time state champion, won the match to help Osceola earn a spot in the FHSAA state duals tournament starting Friday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Anderson Heap (left) locks up with Darian Monserrate of George Steinbrenner High Thursday. Heap, a two-time state champion, won the match to help Osceola earn a spot in the FHSAA state duals tournament starting Friday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Osceola, Harmony punch state duals tickets

Osceola High has been no stranger to the FHSAA state duals wrestling championships since it was created seven years ago. The Kowboys hosted the tournament for the previous six years, and have also qualified for it each year, finishing as state runner-ups in 2020 and 2023.
New Celebration football coach Jed Ebersole comes from Lake Buena Vista High, where he coached an improved defense last year. PHOTO/LAKE BUENA VISTA HIGH

New Celebration football coach Jed Ebersole comes from Lake Buena Vista High, where he coached an improved defense last year. PHOTO/LAKE BUENA VISTA HIGH

Celebration, Poinciana name new football coaches

Celebration and Poinciana have named new football coaches. Jed Ebersole and Taron Mallard will lead the Storm and Eagles – and they’re slated to meet in the 2024 regular season opener. Ebersole, 40, replaces Jeremy Palmer, who went 2-18 in his two seasons at the helm.
Harmony’s Vlad Torrado goes up for a shot, and Gateway’s Sebastian Vazquez provides the physical defense, in Friday’s Longhorns win that spoiled the grand opening of the new Panther gym. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Harmony’s Vlad Torrado goes up for a shot, and Gateway’s Sebastian Vazquez provides the physical defense, in Friday’s Longhorns win that spoiled the grand opening of the new Panther gym. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Gateway opens new gym with hoops split

Visiting Harmony used a 12-2 run to start the third quarter and then held on for 57-47 win over host Gateway on Friday night.
Karolyna Adam’s stellar play in the post-season helped lead St. Cloud High School to fourth place at the FHSAA Class 3A State Tournament in November. PHOTO/RYAN ADAMS

Karolyna Adam’s stellar play in the post-season helped lead St. Cloud High School to fourth place at the FHSAA Class 3A State Tournament in November. PHOTO/RYAN ADAMS

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS GOLF — Adams led Lady Bulldogs to new heights

If you are named Player of the Year in an individual sport, it would be understandable to hear a bit of ego or at least a little pride from the recipient. But when St.
An all-around force, Osceola sophomore Cate Palmi was among the state leaders in kills and aces on a Kowboys’ team that reached the Class 7A volleyball regional final. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

An all-around force, Osceola sophomore Cate Palmi was among the state leaders in kills and aces on a Kowboys’ team that reached the Class 7A volleyball regional final. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL — Cate Palmi, Osceola teammates dominate All-County Team

For a second consecutive year and by a wide margin, Osceola was the county’s best high school girls’ volleyball team. Its spectacular sophomore outside hitter, Cate Palmi, is the Osceola News-Gazette Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, and five teammates were All-County selections.
The Osceola Magic's Brandon Williams was signed to an NBA Two-Way contract by the Dallas Mavericks Thursday. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

The Osceola Magic's Brandon Williams was signed to an NBA Two-Way contract by the Dallas Mavericks Thursday. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Osceola Magic beats Knicks after Dallas Mavericks sign Brandon Williams

The Osceola Magic defeated the Westchester Knicks at the Westchester County Center 138-130 on Saturday in the first game of the regular season. Games play up to this point served as qualifying for the NBA G League's Winter Showcase, and records reset for the season that will run through May.