All-News4JAX football: Laython Biddle finds his home at Bartram Trail, top of the state rushing list
Laython Biddle came to Florida not knowing quite what to expect. By the time Biddle put a bow on his high school athletics career at Bartram Trail, Biddle was the areaโs first state rushing champion since Yulee icon Derrick Henry in 2012 and the All-News4JAX offensive player of the year.
Kaluma's 4-point play in overtime helps Kansas State rally past No. 9 Baylor, 68-64
Arthur Kaluma converted a four-point play to give Kansas State the lead with 20 seconds left in overtime, and Tylor Perry added a pair of free throws with 6.9 seconds to go, helping the Wildcats beat No. 9 Baylor 68-64 on Tuesday night.
Bartram Trail defense delivers history-making back-to-back girls lacrosse championships
The Bartram Trail girls lacrosse team became the first area program, boys or girls, to win back-to-back state championships when it edged Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in a 5-4 thriller that went down to the final seconds on Saturday night in Naples.
Success of Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra show depth of girls lacrosse in the area
Bartram Trail (17-4) will face Tampa Plant (18-3) at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon in the Class 2A state semifinals in Naples. Five hours later at 7:30, Ponte Vedra (14-4) collides with Lake Highland Prep (19-3) in the Class 1A semi. That the area has teams in both classifications still alive and chasing championships is a testament to just how much the sport has grown in the area.
Close range: Baylor grinds to Elite 8 in 62-51 win ova 'Nova
Davion Mitchell, a 46% shooter from 3 this season, went 0 for 3 from long range on a 14-point day. Jared Butler scored nine points on 1-for-9 shooting from 3, and MaCio Teague had five points without a 3. The guards did a great job of not settling and probing more.โBecause of that, Baylor shot 53% in the second half, even though it made only one 3. Constantly harassing Villanova shooters who'd carved out space in the first half, Baylor held Villanova to 37.5% shooting in the second and 0 for 9 from 3. Forward Brandon Slater left the game about midway through the second half after landing awkwardly during a fight for a rebound.
No. 12 Oklahoma St beats No. 2 Baylor 83-74 in Big 12 semis
โ Confidence has never been a problem for Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham. 12 Cowboys trying to rally from a second-half hole against second-ranked Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament, Cunningham calmly responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to give his team the lead. AdโYou have to give Oklahoma State a lot of credit," Drew said. The Bears did get off to a quick start, but Oklahoma State answered and gradually pulled ahead. Oklahoma State split the season series with the Longhorns, losing a 77-74 nail-biter in December before winning a 75-67 double-overtime thriller early last month.
Bartram Trail girls soccer team goes back to back with title game rout
Second in the rankings. The Bartram Trail girls soccer team went back to back, claiming their second consecutive Class 7A state championship with a 4-0 win over Cypress Bay on Friday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. Cypress Bay (8-1) has been blanked by the Bears (19-2) in the last two title games. Bartram beat the Lightning 5-0 last year to win the first championship in girls soccer history. When the Lightning managed to find a seam in the Bears defense, keeper Bailey Dean turned everything back that she saw.
Berlin film festival's Golden Bear goes to 'Loony Porn'
FILE - The Baeren (Bears) awards are lined up during the award ceremony for the 2020 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 29, 2020. Organizers say the annual Berlin International Film Festival is being put off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and split into two parts later in 2021. And her palette of performing qualities allowed us to feel, laugh and ask questions," the jury said in a statement. It is the first time that the Berlin Film Festival has awarded a single award for best acting regardless of gender. AdDenes Nagy of Hungary received the award for best director for his debut โNatural Light,โ following a Hungarian unit hunting partisans in the Soviet Union during World War II.
No. 2 Baylor returns with 77-72 win to stay undefeated
Baylor then had six consecutive games postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the program, and hadn't even had another full practice until Sunday. With 6-foot-8 forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua out of the Baylor lineup, Mark Vital had 15 rebounds and three blocks. โCongrats to Baylor for figuring our a way to win, thatโs why theyโre No. But to come away get a win and be able to perform like we did, very very pleased with that. Coming into the game second in the Big 12 averaging 17 points, Butler had three turnovers and took only one shot before halftime.
High school basketball playoffs: All-local clashes headline second round
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The path to the state semifinals in Lakeland continues for boys high school basketball teams this week. Eleven area teams are in action in the second round of the state playoffs on Tuesday night, including four all-local clashes. Region 1-7ABartram Trail (14-13) at Seminole (15-7): Not even a hint of difficulty for the Bears in their playoff opener, a 55-25 blowout of Lake Mary. The Bears have never been past the second round of the state playoffs, losing in their only two trips (2003, 2018). The Warriors hadnโt won a playoff game since 2013 until last weekโs 57-44 victory over Bishop Kenny.
Kansas' record Top 25 run over; Michigan jumps to No. 3
Michigan took advantage of Villanova's loss at St. John's to jump into the top three, Ohio State climbed three spots to No. The Jayhawks began their Top 25 streak on Feb. 2, 2009, when freshman guard Bryce Thompson was 6 years old. โWe have plenty of games to go win and I know this team can do it,โ Kansas guard Christian Braun said. 15, followed by Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Creighton and Southern California. The Bruins dropped out, along with Kansas, Florida and Drake, whose 18-0 start was spoiled in a 74-57 loss to Valparaiso.
No. 2 Baylor on pause again because of COVID-19 protocols
Baylor coach Scott Drew, right, argues a call during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Austin, Texas. 2 Baylor has had its season interrupted again because of COVID-19 protocols, with the Big 12 Conference postponing the Bears' next two scheduled games. Their next scheduled game is now at home Feb. 13 against No. AdCoach Scott Drew missed the first two games of Baylor's reshuffled scheduled after testing positive for COVID-19 in November. The Big 12 said it would work with Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma to reschedule the remaining postponed games.
No. 2 Baylor still undefeated after 84-72 win over Auburn
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)WACO, Texas โ This Baylor win was for Davion Mitchell, and the junior guard did his part against his former team. Mitchell swished a 3-pointer after losing a shoe and finished with 13 points and seven assists, helping the Bears stay undefeated with an 84-72 win over Auburn in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday. โAnd thatโs OK, because Butler, and Teague and Davion Mitchell and Flagler are all really good,โ Pearl said. "That conversation down the court, that was pretty cool.โAHEAD TO STAYButler made two free throws with 4:50 left in the first half for a 23-22 Baylor lead. Baylor: Baylor is 7-1 in Big 12/SEC Challenge games, the best record by any team in either league in the annual showdown.
Gonzaga, Baylor remain atop AP Top 25; UConn in at No. 25
(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)Gonzaga and Baylor were the top two teams in The Associated Press preseason menโs college basketball poll. Villanova, Texas and Iowa rounded out a top 5 that remained the same from last week. Gonzaga and Baylor split most of the first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25, but the Zags have become the clear-cut No. Gonzaga, which had five games canceled due to COVID-19 issues last month, has won 16 straight dating to last season. The Huskies won the national championship in 2014 but went to the NCAA Tournament only one more time before Hurley was lured from Rhode Island.
Brady and Bucs, plus Bills and Rams win NFL wild-card games
The first tripleheader of NFL wild-card games saw Tom Brady extend his postseason record for victories to 31 with a 31-23 win for Tampa Bay at Washington on Saturday. After a quarter-century, the Bills got one of those triumphs that Brady collects โ and they even figured out how to stop a Hail Mary. The previous playoff win was over Miami on Dec. 30, 1995. And it came in the Billsโ first home playoff game in 24 years, with a limited number of fans in attendance (6,700) for the first time this season. The Ravens averaged an NFL-best 191.9 yards rushing per game and their 3,071 yards rushing were third highest in NFL history.
Berlin film festival postponed to later in 2021 due to virus
FILE - The Baeren (Bears) awards are lined up during the award ceremony for the 2020 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 29, 2020. Organizers say the annual Berlin International Film Festival is being put off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and split into two parts later in 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)BERLIN โ The annual Berlin International Film Festival is being put off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and split into two parts later in 2021, organizers said Friday. Then in June, organizers are scheduling a summer event with numerous film screenings for the public in theaters and the open air. โThe division makes it possible to maintain the two supporting pillars: film market and festival,โ organizers said.
Lee tops Bolles to win 3rd Fortegra Basketball Invitational tournament
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. โ LSU signee Alex Fudge took tournament MVP honors and led Lee to a 66-51 victory over Bolles in the championship game of the Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament on Saturday night. Saturday recapsEpiscopal 54, West Nassau 34Mark Flakus had 15 points, Cort McCarthy followed with 14 and Beza Miller 12 as Super 6 No. Eric Gaines led Camden County with 22 points. The win sends Lee into Saturdayโs championship against either Bolles or West Nassau. The Bears advance to the fifth-place game Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. against either Camden County or Fletcher.
Lee, Bolles surge into Fortegra hoops title game
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. โ Itโs Bolles and Lee for Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament championship. The Generals (5-0) will face Bolles (6-0) in Saturdayโs championship game, with Lee knocking off Episcopal 72-56 and Bolles edging West Nassau 72-68. The win sends Lee into Saturdayโs championship against either Bolles or West Nassau. Bolles 72, West Nassau 68Bobby Crouch had a tournament-high 32 points and the Bulldogs held off a fast-charging Warriors squad to reach the Saturday championship game. Bartram Trail 52, Atlantic Coast 38Bartram Trail used a burst right before the break to top a cold-shooting Atlantic Coast team in the opening game of the Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament on Friday.
Four takeaways: Jaguars continue to make progress, but still losing
The Jaguars lost their 11th consecutive game, 27-24 in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings. Had the Jets won and the Jaguars lost, Jacksonville would have moved into the lead for the No. Itโs a game the Jaguars could have wonAny game that goes to overtime will have missed opportunities by both teams and this one is no different. The Jaguars missed an extra point after their first touchdown, when Chase McLaughlinโs kick went wide. Iโm not going to start calling them Sacksonville, but in the final stretch of a lost season, the Jaguars have shown some improvement in the pass rush lately.
No. 1 Gonzaga vs No. 2 Baylor called off over virus tests
Gonzaga was scheduled to play Baylor but the game was cancelled due to COVID. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS โ Coaches Mark Few of Gonzaga and Scott Drew of Baylor scheduled Saturday's game for all the right seasons. "They (the Bears) are good, really, really good. Just really, really good." And whenever they do play, Drew knows one thing โ people will be watching.
High school football 2020: State semifinals on the line for 5 area teams on Friday night
Five area teams in Class 5A-8A are playing for berths in the state semifinals. Winner gets: Bartram would travel to face the Apopka-Lake Mary winner in the state semifinals on Dec. 11. Glance: A collision between explosive offenses for a berth in the state semifinals. A victory would send the Bears on to the state semifinals for the sixth time in program history. Now, a win will send one of these teams on to the state semifinals.
High school football 2020: Postseason road begins Thursday night for several teams
The two-headed rushing attack of Kade Frew 684 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and Azeh Kani (557 rushing yards, 2 TDs) is very effective. Otis is more of a dual-threat player (854 passing yards, 273 rushing yards, 8 total TDs) and Campbell more of a pocket passer. Region 1-5A, Play-in game, Round 1: White (4-4) at Bishop Kenny (1-6)Up next: The winner will host Tallahassee Rickards in the Round 2 play-in game on Nov. 13. Region 1-3A, Play-in game, Round 1: Episcopal (4-2) at Wolfson (0-7), 6 p.m. Region 1-2A, Play-in game, Round 1: Quincy Munroe (8-0) at University Christian (3-4), 7:30 p.m.
High school football 2020: Results from around the area in Week 8
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Week 8 of the high school football season is in the books. 3 Trinity Christian turned in another defensive gem in topping Lee 14-6. Trinity Christian (5-1), Class 3A: Beat Lee, 14-6. Lee (4-1), Class 6A: LOST to Trinity Christian, 14-6. GEORGIAFriday, Oct. 23Brunswick 38, Statesboro 18Glynn Academy 35, South Effingham 3*Pierce County 49, Brantley County 7*Ware County 24, Coffee 14Off: Camden County, Charlton County.
High school volleyball 2020: Five area teams win playoff openers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The first night of high school volleyball playoff action is in the books and five local teams are moving on. The Mustangs (11-9) advanced to the Oct. 28 regional semifinal at Bartram Trail. Bartram Trail 3, Sandalwood 0The Bears (13-7) swept the Saints 25-18, 25-23, 25-11 to advance to the regional semifinals on Oct. 28. The 18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 win sends the Knights (17-2) to the second round on Oct. 28. Tallahassee Leon 3, Fleming Island 2The Golden Eagles pushed host Leon to the limit, but couldnโt get over the hurdle in a 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 14-16 loss.
News4Jax Super 10: Trinity Christian makes jump after solid win on the road
(2) Bolles, (5-1), Class 4ALast week: d. Baker County, 33-14. (1) Bartram Trail, (5-1), Class 8ALast week: d. Nease, 42-13. (6) Trinity Christian (4-1), Class 3ALast week: d. Plantation American Heritage, 3-0. This week: vs. Trinity Christian (4-1), 6 p.m.Glance: The Generals walloped the rival Tigers on the road last week and stayed perfect. On the bubble: Clay (5-0, Class 5A); Creekside (4-2, Class 7A); Hilliard (5-0, Class 1A); Ponte Vedra (5-1, Class 6A); St. Augustine (3-2, Class 6A); Suwannee (5-2, Class 5A).
More young bears, less food send them to Juneauโs garbage
JUNEAU, Alaska โ A larger than normal number of young bears and dwindling natural food supply for them are forcing the animals to head for Juneau's garbage with unusual frequency, a wildlife official said. A poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs this year mean more bears are looking for food among the city's trash, KTOO Public Media in Juneau reported. Conditions have made bears desperate to fatten themselves before they hibernate for the winter, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said. Abby McAllister, a wildlife education and outreach specialist with the agency, said more bears are competing for the smaller amount of available food. Those young bears have recently been kicked out by their mothers and need to fend for themselves, but are still inexperienced, McAllister said.
News4Jax Super 10: Teams trading spaces in this weekโs poll
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The third installment of the News4Jax Super 10 poll for the 2020 high school football season. (NR) Baker County (2-0), Class 5ALast week: d. Orange Park, 49-0. Dropped out: University Christian (0-1, Class 2A), lost to Clay. On the bubble: Baldwin (1-0, Class 1A); Bradford (1-1, Class 4A); Creekside (0-1, Class 7A); Flagler Palm Coast (0-0, Class 8A); Fletcher (1-0, Class 7A); Ponte Vedra (1-0, Class 6A); Raines (0-1, Class 5A); Sandalwood (0-0, Class 8A); University Christian (0-1, Class 2A); Westside (0-1, Class 5A); West Nassau (2-0, Class 4A). GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 18Benedictine (2-0) at Brunswick (1-1), 7:30 p.m.Camden County (1-1) at Raines (0-1), 6 p.m.Charlton County (1-0) at Long County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Claxton (1-0) at Pierce County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.Glynn Academy (1-1) at Winder (1-0), 7:30Off: Ware County.
High school football 2020: Bolles-Trinity headlines jam-packed Week 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The first full week of high school football is here. After a light slate of games last week, football cranks up in full force this week, with a full schedule and a load of marquee games to choose from. Bartram Trail at Creekside: One of the few rivalry games of the true opening week of games matches the Super 10 No. Bolles at Trinity Christian, 7:30 p.m.: This is usually the game to set your calendar by. GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 11Glynn Academy (1-0) at Camden County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.McIntosh County Academy (0-1) at Brunswick (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Richmond Hill (1-0) at Ware County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.Wayne County (1-0) at Pierce County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.OFF: Charlton County (1-0).
News4Jax Super 10: Real games begin this week for areas top teams
This week: at Trinity Christian (0-0),Glance: The Bulldogs looked very good in a scrimmage last week against Bishop Kenny. (3) Trinity Christian (0-0), Class 3ALast week: Off. This week: vs. Bolles (0-0), 7:30 p.m.Glance: Defense led the way in a kickoff classic last week at Gainesville Buchholz. On the bubble: Baker County (1-0, Class 5A); Baldwin (0-0, Class 1A); Bradford (0-1, Class 4A); Creekside (0-0, Class 7A); Flagler Palm Coast (0-0, Class 8A); Fletcher (0-0, Class 7A); Parker (0-0, Class 5A); Ponte Vedra (0-0, Class 6A); Raines (0-0, Class 5A); Sandalwood (0-0, Class 8A); Westside (0-0, Class 5A); West Nassau (1-0, Class 4A). GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 11Glynn Academy (1-0) at Camden County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.McIntosh County Academy (0-1) at Brunswick (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Richmond Hill (1-0) at Ware County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.Wayne County (1-0) at Pierce County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.OFF: Charlton County (1-0).