Jay’s girls basketball team is thrilled about getting to play in the Rural state final four on Tuesday afternoon at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.


Yet, as much excitement as there is surrounding the program’s first trip to state in nearly 30 years, the job isn’t done.

L.E.A.D Academy’s girls basketball team welcomed Impact Christian to Benaiah Gym on Friday night for a Sweet 16 showdown to determine who would move on to the Region 1-1A final.


The top-seeded Lions are still playing basketball after dominating fourth-seeded Impact 53-12.

Hattie Locklin hit the floor hard, bumping her head on the court, and had to be helped to the locker room to be evaluated late in the third quarter of a Rural Region 1 championship game that still hung in the balance.


Three minutes later, she was kneeling near the score table, chants of ‘We want Hattie’ flowing from an energized Jay student section, and the hope of the program’s first trip to state since 1998 getting a new injection of life.

Pace’s softball team understands there is a target on its back. It comes with the territory of being one of the state’s top programs.


On that note, it’s no surprise the Patriots had to absorb the Navarre Raiders’ best shot in their season opener Thursday night on the road. The Raiders led 3-0 early but the Patriots got rolling eventually and came away with a 10-3 win.

A spot in the state final four is on the line Friday night for Jay’s girls basketball team.


The top-seeded Royals (23-4) face off against Chipley (17-8) for the Rural Region 1 title and are aiming for their first trip to state in nearly 30 years. Game time is 7 p.m.

L.E.A.D. Academy takes on Impact Christian Academy in a Region 1-1A Sweet 16 matchup on Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m.


The Lions (18-1) are the top seed in the tournament and are coming off a 58-15 win over Redeemer Christian in the opening round.

Pace’s Jonathan Jimenez is staying close to home for college football as he signed with the University of West Florida earlier this month.


The standout defensive lineman believes joining a perennially strong Argonaut team was the right choice.

It wasn’t a hard decision for Pace defensive back Caleb Curry to choose the Air Force Academy to fulfill his academy and athletic dreams.


Both of his parents served in the military, and Curry felt right at home signing with Air Force.

The University of West Florida broke ground on the Darrell Gooden Stadium project on Feb. 11.

Pace’s wrestling team won the District 1-2A Individual Bracketed Tournament Tuesday at Choctaw.

The Patriots racked up 241.5 points, with seven wrestlers placing first or second. Milton took ninth with 68.5 points.