It’s time to highlight some of the top volleyball players from our coverage area in 2023.

Baker had the most memorable season, winning a 1A state title, while Navarre and Jay both earned runner-up honors in their respective districts and made the regional tournament.

Kaylee Gilbreath stole the ball, dribbled up the floor ahead of the defense and converted the timely turnover into an easy layup, triggering a swing of momentum for Jay’s girls basketball team.

That basket, with just 14.2 seconds left on the clock, gave the Royals a 26-24 lead after three quarters and set the wheels in motion for a dominant fourth.

A state championship was won. Another almost was. Pace’s girls weightlifting team won its first title in program history while the softball team at Pace came up just shy of its first title since 2007.

The area sports scene featured other big moments as well. Pace and Milton both finished in the top five in boys weightlifting and two individuals won state titles.

Olivia Ikier put up a shot in the lane over a defender with just over a second remaining in the first half of Tuesday’s showdown against Booker T Washington.

It went in and Pace celebrated as that basket gave the Patriots a two-point lead at halftime against the unbeaten Wildcats.

The new classifications are out for high school football in Florida. And there are some changes.

Navarre, Pace, Tate and Crestview will be together in District 1-6A. Milton is headed to 5A and Jay will remain rural.

Milton wanted to win Wednesday afternoon’s showdown against Mary G. Montgomery in the Florida/Alabama Challenge at Tate and keep its perfect start to the season intact.

But there is value in defeat, especially in a battle of unbeaten teams, and the Panthers took that to heart in a 53-45 loss to the Vikings inside Fryman Gymnasium.

Pace head boys basketball coach Houston Ramsay has seen the snapshots of his team’s potential this season.

Take the 66-50 District 1-6A loss to Navarre on Monday night as an example.

For Ethan Diamond and Chase Taylor, Friday’s Pensacola Sports Association All-Star Game carried a little extra meaning.

The Milton quarterback and Pace linebacker became friends in fifth grade and have remained close ever since.

Pace alum Olivia Bradley knew it was going to take a ton of time and effort to be a college athlete. And that just scratches the surface.

Aubreigh Nelson is only a freshman, but she continues to make an impact for Jay’s girls basketball team in just her second year as a varsity player.

She admits starting out playing at that level while still in middle school wasn’t easy.