Sports

Harmony's Sylus Cory (44 in white) and St. Cloud's Ryan Rodriguez go for a rebound in Wednesday's wild OBC tournament semifinal, a 54-52 Bulldogs win. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Harmony's Sylus Cory (44 in white) and St. Cloud's Ryan Rodriguez go for a rebound in Wednesday's wild OBC tournament semifinal, a 54-52 Bulldogs win. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

It's Poinciana vs. St. Cloud for OBC boys basketball title Friday

J. Daniel Pearson And Ken Jackson
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
In a game that more than lived up to expectations, Diomar Ortiz hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 2.7 seconds remaining to give St. Cloud a 54-52 upset road win over Harmony in the semifinals of the Orange Belt Conference boys basketball tournament.
Bitter rivals Harmony and St. Cloud have split two meetings already this year, and are on a collision course to meet Wednesday in the Orange Belt Conference tournament semifinals at Harmony. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Bitter rivals Harmony and St. Cloud have split two meetings already this year, and are on a collision course to meet Wednesday in the Orange Belt Conference tournament semifinals at Harmony. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Harmony, Poinciana top seeds in OBC boys hoops tourney

J. Daniel Pearson
Monday, January 22, 2024
As the highest-ranked state ranked team in the FHSAA last week, Harmony earned the top seed for this week’s Orange Belt Conference boys’ basketball tournament beginning Monday The tournament features a “pod” system.
Osceola defeated Palmetto Ridge and Timber Creek before falling to South Dade in the finals of the FHSAA Class 3A State Dual Wrestling Championships. It was Osceola’s second consecutive runner-up finish and third in the State Duals, which began in 2018. (Photo courtesy Osceola High School).

Osceola defeated Palmetto Ridge and Timber Creek before falling to South Dade in the finals of the FHSAA Class 3A State Dual Wrestling Championships. It was Osceola’s second consecutive runner-up finish and third in the State Duals, which began in 2018. (Photo courtesy Osceola High School).

Valiant Kowboys 2nd in 3A state dual wrestling

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Osceola’s storied wrestling program added another chapter to its legacy Saturday with an impressive runner-up finish at the Class 3A FHSAA State Duals Wrestling Championships Now in its seventh year, the tournament was won by South Dade, who defeated Osceola in the finals, 55-15.
OBC Champions (Traditional) Left to Right: 101-Kiana Moran (Gateway), 110-Ashley Aun (St. Cloud), 119- Abriana Nunez (Harmony), 129-Rosimar Amurrio (Tohopekaliga), 139-Alexis Woodman (Tohopekaliga), 154-Belen Gonzalez (St. Cloud), 169-Morgan Pascual (Harmony), 183-Jaylonie Mejia (St. Cloud), 199-Reese Butler (St. Cloud), Unlimited-Kaytlyn Simpson (Harmony). Photo courtesy Cory Aun/St. Cloud High School.

OBC Champions (Traditional) Left to Right: 101-Kiana Moran (Gateway), 110-Ashley Aun (St. Cloud), 119- Abriana Nunez (Harmony), 129-Rosimar Amurrio (Tohopekaliga), 139-Alexis Woodman (Tohopekaliga), 154-Belen Gonzalez (St. Cloud), 169-Morgan Pascual (Harmony), 183-Jaylonie Mejia (St. Cloud), 199-Reese Butler (St. Cloud), Unlimited-Kaytlyn Simpson (Harmony). Photo courtesy Cory Aun/St. Cloud High School.

The Cloud again -- Bulldogs earn 14th straight OBC girls weightlifting title

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, January 20, 2024
When it comes to girls weightlifting in Osceola County, nothing really changes but the date.
Tohopekaliga goalie Jason Barrientos turns away a shot early in Friday's Orange Belt Conference boys soccer championship game. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Tohopekaliga goalie Jason Barrientos turns away a shot early in Friday's Orange Belt Conference boys soccer championship game. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

OBC BOYS SOCCER -- Celebration caps "difficult" tournament with 1-0 win over Tohopekaliga

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Freshman forward Yosberth Quintero, who was just called up from the junior varsity a few weeks ago, slammed home a goal off a set piece with seven minutes remaining in the second overtime to give the Celebration Storm a 1-0 win over Tohopekaliga in the Orange Belt Conference boys soccer...
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

Ken Jackson
Friday, January 19, 2024
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

Staff Report
Thursday, January 18, 2024
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

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
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

J. Daniel Pearson
Monday, January 15, 2024
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

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, January 12, 2024
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.
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