Back-To-Back: Troy Wins 2026 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship In Pensacola
March 10, 2026
Troy defeated Georgia Southern, 77-61, in the championship game of the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve on Monday evening at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Trojans punched a ticket to their fourth NCAA Tournament in program history and became the Sun Belt’s first back-to-back champions since Georgia State in 2018 and 2019. They will learn their seeding and regional destination during the NCAA Selection Show which will be televised nationally on CBS on Sunday, March 15 at 5 p.m. CT
Junior forward Thomas Dowd registered his 17th double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds on 8-for-12 shooting while adding three assists. He was named Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player as, senior forward Jerrell Bellamy added 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting to earn All-Tournament Team honors.
Troy shot 30-for-51 (.588) from the field, owned a 35-18 rebounding advantage and outscored Georgia Southern, 50-22, in the paint and 11-2 on second chances.
Georgia Southern scored the first basket of the game on a 3-pointer by graduate guard Tyren Moore, but Troy responded with eight-straight points capped by a transition basket in the paint from Bellamy.
Troy led for the remainder of the half and created its first double-digit lead of the night, 32-18, on a 10-2 scoring run capped by a 3-pointer off the hand of redshirt junior guard Cobi Campbell with 2:31 left before halftime. The Trojans shot 15-for-26 (.577) from the floor and outscored the Eagles, 26-8, in the paint whole holding them to just 8-for-26 (.308) shooting at the intermission.
Georgia Southern’s offense found a groove early in the second half, trimming its deficit to just four, 39-35, on a trey by graduate guard Jefferson Koulibaly with 16:07 to go.
Troy got the margin back to double digits, 49-39, on a Victor Valdes basket at the 12:34 mark. The advantage remained in double-digits for the rest of the night, as the Trojans shot 60 percent from the field in the second half.
James Madison Top Troy To Win Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Title In Pensacola
March 10, 2026
James Madison defeated Troy 69–52 on Monday afternoon to take the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship title.
James Madison claimed its second title in four years, after winning their first tournament title in 2023. Earning the league’s auto bid James Madison will make its 14th NCAA tournament appearance.
Peyton McDaniel led the Dukes with a 28-point, 11-rebound, double-double, adding on four steals and four assists. A four-time Sun Belt All-Tournament Team honoree, McDaniel caps her Sun Belt tournament career being named the event’s Most Outstanding Player. The redshirt-senior averaged 25 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game through the Dukes three tournament games.
Teammate Ashanti Barnes was also named to the All-Tournament Team, producing a dominating 19-point, 10 rebound performances in the title game.
James Madison wasted little time taking control, opening the game on an 11–0 run fueled by McDaniel, who scored five of the Dukes’ first 11 points. The early surge forced Troy to burn a quick timeout as JMU set the tone on both ends of the floor.
The Trojans responded late in the first quarter. After falling behind by 14, Troy strung together a 6–0 run while the Dukes went cold offensively, trimming the deficit to single digits. James Madison still held a 20–12 lead heading into the second quarter.
A steal and full-court layup from Jackson pulled the Trojans within five, 23–18, and the momentum forced the Dukes to regroup as Troy threatened to cut the lead to just one possession midway through the quarter.
McDaniel halted the rally before halftime. The Dukes guard knocked down a deep three-pointer and followed it with a baseline layup, as the Dukes carried a four-point lead into the break.
James Madison seized control early in the third quarter scoring eight-straight points to start the half, pushing the Dukes’ advantage back to 14. The Trojans were unable to comeback and JMU maintained command, entering the fourth quarter with a 58–44 lead.
James Madison opened the fourth with eight-consecutive points, stretching the lead to 22. Troy made one last push, but the Dukes defense held for the 69-52 win.
James Madison enters the NCAA tournament with a 26-8 record overall. The team will learn of their March Madness opponent during the selection show on Sunday March, 15th at 7 p.m CT/ 8 p.m. ET.
Hundreds Attend Roy Hyatt ‘Night Of Nature’ In Cantonment
March 9, 2026
Hundreds of people attended the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center’s “Night of Nature” on Friday in Cantonment.
About 450 visitors and volunteers came out and enjoyed an evening full of family fun. They met reptiles, blasted off into space in the planetarium, met cool creatures of the night, peered at Jupiter through telescopes, saw birds of prey, played bird matching games, participated in science and birding activities, took night hikes through the woods while learning about foxes, salamanders, opossums, and owls, ate, used microscopes to observe all kinds of microscopic organisms, and toured the beach house visiting with all of the aquatic creatures living there.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center on Tobias Road is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Goes 3-4 At Weekend At Panama City Softball Challenge
March 9, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggies went 3-1 at the Florida-USA Softball Challenge 2026 on Friday and Saturday in Panama City.
Senior Kaylie Mitchell had four total home runs during the tournament, and was a tough call away from a fifth. Senior Jordyn Banks had one home run.
Tournament Scores
- Brewbaker Tech 5, Tate 4
- Tate 9, Wicksburg 2
- Tate 15, Ashford 10
- Tate 13, Arnold 3
This week, Tate will travel to Navarre on Tuesday, and to West Florida on Friday, to round out action before Spring Break.
Pictured: Tate Lady Aggies Senior Kaylie Mitchell at the Florida-USA Softball Challenge 2026 on Friday and Saturday in Panama City. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Takes Three At Weekend At Panama City Softball Challenge
March 9, 2026
Northview’s Lady Chiefs went 3-1 at the Florida-USA Softball Challenge 2026 on Friday and Saturday in Panama City.
Daviona Randolph had three home runs for the Lady Chiefs, Avery Stuckey had one, and Brooklyn Allen had a grand slam.
Tournament Scores
- Northview 6, Port St. Joe 0
- Northview 5, Ashford 2
- Enterprise 8, Northview 3
- Northview 12, Walton 1
This week, Northview will host T.R. Miller on Tuesday and travel to Niceville on Thursday.
Play Ball! Saturday Was Opening Day For A Growing Century Blackcats Ball Program
March 8, 2026
Saturday was opening day for the spring ball season for the Century Baseball Association at Showalter Park.
The program is continuing to grow, up from 198 players and 16 teams last year to 220 plays and 19 teams this year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Opening Day At Molino, NEP and Century Ballparks
March 8, 2026
Saturday was opening day for the spring ball season at several local ballparks including NEP, Century Baseball Association at Showalter Park and the Molino Ballpark.
For a photo gallery that includes scenes from Molino, Century and ENP, click here.
Related story: Play Ball! Saturday Was Opening Day For A Growing Century Blackcats Ball Program
Reader submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Walks Off With Extra Inning District Thriller 5-4 Over Jay
March 7, 2026
Northview 5, Jay 4 (8 innings)
The Northview Chiefs walked off with a 5-4 win over the Jay Royals in an extra inning district thriller on Friday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs took a 4-0 lead in the second inning, only to see Jay tie the game at four in the top of the sixth inning.
For first-year Northview Head Coach Justin Raley, it was an extra meaningful win. Justin had been an assistant coach the past three seasons at Jay, under the leadership of his father Duane Raley, who is now an assistant coach at Northview.
“It’s very special. I love some people over there, and we had a great time, but I’m thankful for my opportunity over here,” Justin Raley said. “I’ve got friends over there; I’ve got family and my wife is from there. It’s good to compete against those guys, and I’m proud of our guys.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Grayson Burns was on the mound for five and two-thirds innings for the Chiefs, allowing four hits, four runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out six. Jase Portwood earned the win in two and one-third innings of no run, no hit ball, walking one and striking out five.
Dane King went 2-4 at the plate for the Chiefs, with two RBIs. Chavers went 3-3.
“These guys competed so hard; I’m so thankful for them,” Justin Raley said. “God brought me to a wonderful place. These guys, they buy in, and they compete every day and I love them.”
Bryson Nelson led the Royals with two RBIs as he went 2-4.
Landon Golden gave up five hits and four runs in five innings for Jay, striking out eight and walking three.
Up next, Jay will travel to Chipley on Tuesday and Flomaton on Thursday. In a three-game home stand next week, Northview will host J.U. Blacksher on Monday, T.R. Miller on Thursday, and L.E.A.D. Academy on Friday.
Justin Raley told the team that it will be important to stay focused after a big win with three games on the schedule next week.
“We’ve got to show up next week and compete; we can’t stop,” he said. “It’s just maintaining a sense of composure, and I preached to them not to let the moment get too big. We’ll enjoy it tonight, and then tomorrow morning, it’s back to business and we’ll be ready for next week.”
Northview 6, Jay 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs beat the JV Jay Royals 6-1 on Friday in Bratt.
McAnnally earned the win for the Chiefs, giving up five hits and no runs in six innings, walking one and striking out five. Camden Jacobson pitched tw0-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits, one run, no walks, and no strikeouts.
Tyler McAnally went 2-for-3 for Northview, with one RBI.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Portwood Homers Twice, Reid Once; Bridge Throws No-Hitter As Northview Beats PCA
March 6, 2026
Northview 11, Pensacola Christian 0
With two home runs from Jase Portwood, a Sam Reid homer, and a no-hitter from Jackson Bridges, the Northview Chiefs shut out Pensacola Christian 11-0 on Thursday in Pensacola.
Portwood hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to left field before hitting another two-run homer in the seventh inning. Reid’s two-run home run to left field also came in the seventh.
Jackson Bridges threw a no-hitter, striking out two and walking two in seven innings.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals on Friday.
McLellan Throws Shutout As Tate Beats Southwest Christian
March 6, 2026
Tate 3 Southwest Christian School 0
Bryton McLellan threw a complete game shutout as the Tate Aggies shut out the Southwest Christian School Eagles 3-0 on Thursday.
Bryton McLellan pitched seven innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, walking one and striking out four.
Kaden Posta, Evan Taylor, and Brody White had one hit each for the Aggies.
Tate will take on George County on Friday.