LAKELAND – Paxon dug themselves deep into a hole and nearly climbed out it but wasn’t able to falling 61-49 to St. Pete Lakewood in the Class 6A state semifinals.“In the second quarter we were just pressing to much, we were rushing things and I told them at the half, lets start chipping this thing...Read More

Lakeland- Possessing intestinal fortitude in basketball usually describes a team or a player’s endurance through pain and adversity on the court. However for the Jackson Tigers, the popular euphemism meant a lot more when their captain and leading scorer Joshua Knox fell ill before the biggest game of his life. Great hustle by Josh Knox...Read More

LAKELAND – It’s first time in Lakeland, University Christian (28-4) learned a valuable rookie lesson; don’t put yourself in a deep hole you can’t dig out of.For one quarter, the Christians went toe-to-toe with two time defending state champions Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, but that quickly changed. Ahead 17-14 starting the second quarter, Westminster went...Read More

LAKELAND – Despite having a extremely taller height advantage, North Florida Educational Institute had no answer for stopping the Central Florida Christian duo of Bryce Street and Jordan Preaster.The duo combined for 55 of the Eagles 72 points to lead the CFCA Eagles to their first state title with a 72-67 win over NFEI today...Read More

LAKELAND – After following one game short of a state title last year, North Florida Educational Institute made sure it didn’t happen this year pounding Schoolhouse Prep 62-48 in the Class 2A state semifinals today in Lakeland.With the exception of a brief 3-2 lead to start the game, NFEI led from start to finish taking...Read More

Lakeland- Many thought they were our best hopes at a state title in both girls and boys basketball. They had four D1 players, two four year varsity players, a decorated Head Coach who previously won a ring, and arguably the most dominant player from our area. Yet the then 29-1 Nease girls basketball team fell...Read More

In 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson was our president, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was marching in Selma, and one of the greatest musicals of all time, (Sound of Music) had just come out in theaters. Well 1965 was also the last time that the Paxon High School boys basketball team made the Final Four....Read More

Since the first day of tryouts, many have dreams and aspirations of getting to Lakeland but only a few are actually able to make it to the Final Four.With University Christian and North Florida Educational Institute having already punched their tickets last Tuesday, Paxon, Jackson and Fleming Island, Columbia and Palatka were looking to join...Read More

LAKELAND – Longtime Nease head coach Sherri Anthony could have scheduled cupcakes on her schedule to help pad her 600 plus wins; but she didn’t she went out and found competitive teams to push her team and get them ready for the postseason again.It worked as the Lady Panthers are one win away from a...Read More

LAKELAND – Down 4 with 6:08 to play, it appeared Bartram Trail had finally climbed back in it; however a 11-3 run by Tampa Bay Tech allowed them to close it out in a 44-32 loss in the Class 8A state semifinals. Bartram Trail dug themselves a pretty deep hole they couldn’t get out of...Read More