SPORTS

Venice (12-2) vs. Lakeland Dreadnaughts (11-3) TELEVISION/STREAMING: Bally Sports, Bally Sports+, and at BallySports.com. State Final Preview:Venice football stresses small details as it looks to avenge state title loss to Lakeland. ABOUT VENICE: Venice is in the state championship game for the third straight year, an area record. … Venice...

Where there is another game for Mulberry junior point guard Lorianys Castanon Cruz, there is an opportunity to get better. The dribble-drive and shot were working all-evening long last game vs. Four Corners, a game in which the Panthers blew the doors off their opponent in a 54-34 game. Cruz, who led the county in scoring last season thanks to her 30.3 points per game average, racked up 28 points and five steals in the game. More importantly, Mulberry is now 2-0 on the early 2023-24 year.

LAKELAND — It was March 9, 2022, Jamar Taylor Jr., then a freshman at Victory Christian, was in his room when he heard a noise in another upstairs room at his house in Lakeland. Checking it out, he found his father, former Lakeland running back Jamar Taylor Sr., slumped on the floor.

LAKELAND — Bill Castle, gone. Thirty-one seniors, gone. For most teams, replacing a legendary coach who just won his eighth state title in his 47th year as head coach and losing a large core of that squad, including the nation’s No. 1 recruit, the following season would reasonably be considered a transition and rebuilding season for most programs.

High school basketball is happening today in Polk County, Florida, and information on these games is available below, if you're searching for how to stream them. Follow high school basketball this season on the NFHS Network! Keep tabs on your family or alma mater and tune in!. Polk County, Florida...

Crest started 2-0, but is at .500 after losing to Armwood and then Steinbrenner on Monday. The Steinbrenner Warriors won the opening tip-off and instantly got to the free-throw line. It didn’t stop there as the Warriors went on a 6-0 run and the Chargers turned the ball over four possessions in a row. Katya King scored the first basket for the Chargers after an offensive rebound and putback. The Warriors followed with an offensive rebound and put back for number 44 and Crest took a timeout with 4:59 left in the first with the score sitting at 8-2 in favor of the Warriors.

VENICE — When Venice looks across the field before an 8:10 p.m. kickoff at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee this Saturday evening, a lot of the players and coaching staff may start to recall some not-so-fond memories.

After having an extraordinary 2022-23 girls' basketball season, the Lake Gibson Braves will not have a season in 2023-24. Lake Gibson Athletic Director Eric Haynes said there were too many factors that prevented his premiere Polk County girls' basketball program from having a season that could have potentially given them a shot at another Class 6A state title. The Braves advanced all the way to the state finals a year ago.

Senior duo Kenton Ferguson and Ben Ryan are considered leaders of the Hawks basketball team. Both have achieved great success at Lakeland High School, including their academic and athletic achievements. Their teammates and coaches love both Ryan and Ferguson for their skills, work ethic and ability to help the team....

Sumner tipped off the basketball season by ending the first week of the season at 1-1. The Stingrays opened the season on Tuesday, Nov. 30, with a 48-44 loss to the Durant Cougars and finished the week with a 57-31 win over South Shore rival East Bay on Friday night.

The day the whole school has been waiting for is going to be here before everyone knows it. Jan.19, students from Sandpoint will travel to Rathdrum for Battle for the Paddle, the ultimate annual rival competition. Lakeland has won the paddle for the last four years, ready to make it...

It was the moment of all moments for the family of George Jenkins girls’ wrestler Mia Martinez. Martinez (46 KG), who missed FHSAA state competition by finishing up her 2023 wrestling year in the blood round in regionals, used a series of blast doubles within the last 30 seconds to win 10-0 in...

Assumption Catholic School’s middle school cross country team traveled to Holloway Park Cross Country Course in Lakeland, Florida, for the Florida Youth Running Association’s Middle School Cross Country State Championship on Oct. 28. The girls 3K team placed third, and the boys 2K team finished in 12th place. The team had a couple strong individual finishes as well with seventh grader Graziana Gowdy placing third and Alexandra Lumpkin coming in 14th place.

For almost any sport, the coach is what makes or breaks the team. Having a supportive coach helps guide athletes to their success. As they build a deeper relationship, athletes feel more comfortable with their coach, often making it difficult to leave them behind. After 8 years with Graham, the girls’ varsity basketball team will begin their upcoming season with their new coach, Reagan Carmichael.

Lakeland walloped Medford 63-32 in Great Northern Conference Girls Basketball. Lakeland scoring: Holmes 2, Timmerman 6, Eridson 8, Barton 4, Quade 2, Everhouse 8, Ouimette 33. Medford scoring: R. Hraby 8, Rau 6, L. Hraby 4, Eloranta 3, Klingbeil 3, Wesle 1, Steliga 1, Kraemer 6. ************************************. Know some top...

Lakeland’s shuffleboard players are getting younger, but many of the courts they play on at Lake Parker Park are showing their age. “The 16 courts that are under cover are fine. We don’t have to replace those. It’s the 16 that are not under cover that, over the years, the surface has deteriorated,” Assistant Parks Director Pam Page said at a City Commission agenda study session on Friday.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla., December 7, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team opened its three-game Florida trip with a matchup at Polk State College on Thursday, dropping a narrow 77-75 final score to the Eagles at the Health Center. The Mustangs fall to 7-3 and see their five-game winning streak come to an end with the loss, while the Eagles improve to 7-4.

GAINESVILLE — It wasn't a perfect game and there weren't quite the offensive fireworks of a week ago, but all that matters to Lakeland is the final score. A missed extra point proved to be the difference as Lakeland prevailed over previously undefeated Buchholz, 21-20, on Friday night in a thrilling Class 4S state semifinal at Citizens Field.Lakeland (11-3) will play Venice in the state finals on Dec. 9 in Tallahassee in a rematch of last...

Two Lakeland football players were among the top players for the week as they helped lead the Dreadnaughts back to the Class 4S state championship game. Here is the complete Tremendous 10 list of nominees for this week's poll. Voting is open until noon on Thursday. 1 Lakeland defensive back...

Gary Olson, Kyle Schaub, Evan Jansen, Jerrett Flynn. Gray Wagner, Al Meyer, Kort Meyer, Aaron Wanta, Jack Rubo, Matt Haggart, Brent Olson, Aden Theissen, Andrew Maulson, Cam Bernard. Key newcomers:. Kade Meyer. Conference outlook:. Should be tough like always. Keys to your success this season:. Attitude and Effort. Behind the...