South Florida Local News

RIVIERA BEACH — The Suncoast boys basketball team is heading to the state final four for the first time since 1990 as the host Chargers defeated Stranahan 55-50 in overtime in a 4A regional final on Saturday night.

Suncoast (23-5) advances to the 4A state semifinal on Mar. 10 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Suncoast avenged a 33-32 loss to Stranahan in the district championship contest on Feb. 7.

“It means everything,” Suncoast coach Jason Powell said. “We have done so much hard work leading up to this point. The community came out to support us and we love that. We are just trying to bring some tradition back to the school.”

Suncoast senior guard Aaron Horton recorded a game-high 17 points. Senior guard Jamarey Harris and senior guard Kyree McKelton each added 13 points in the victory.

Stranahan, winner of the 4A state championship last season, saw junior guard Damari Foster and senior guard Christian Yeargin each score 11 points for the Dragons.

Suncoast had a 13-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter and led 24-18 at halftime. Stranahan (14-14) rallied in the second half and had a 37-36 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Suncoast trailed by three before Harris sparked the Chargers with a steal and layup to cut the deficit to 41-40 in the fourth quarter.

“It’s all about who wanted it more,” Harris said. “I am driven by all of our motivation to make it to states and make it to Jacksonville. That’s just what I am thinking about and that’s my mindset on the court.”

McKelton had a drive to the basket and layup to give the Chargers a 44-43 lead with 2:33 left.

Yeargin delivered a game-tying basket for the Dragons to make it 45-45 with 56 seconds remaining.

Harris missed a 3-point shot with 2.2 seconds left as the teams exited regulation time.

Horton stepped up as he converted a pair of go-ahead free throws to give the Chargers a 47-45 lead with 3:05 left in overtime.

McKelton scored on a drive toward the basket to make it 51-46 with 2:05 left in overtime.

“My teammates trusted me,” McKelton said. “It means a lot. We have never been as a team to states. It feels good.”

Suncoast led 53-50 before Horton sealed the game with two free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining in overtime.

“I knew that we had had everything we needed to do it,” Horton said. “We got the most heart.”

Suncoast students stormed the court after the regional final victory.

Powell credited his team’s defense and preparation to reach the state semifinal.

“Our strength is our defense,” Powell said. “We play through our defense. That’s one of the things that’s carried us all year. We just stayed composed. We have a great coaching staff. I can’t say enough of what they have brought to the program. Markee James is one of the guys who has put a lot of time and effort. It’s just having another great mind with me that can also get us over the hump.”

Two of the state’s most storied girls soccer programs struck gold this week at the FHSAA state soccer championships at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand.

St. Thomas Aquinas added its state-leading 16th title, but first in nine years, when it defeated Niceville 1-0 to win 6A, while American Heritage captured its 15th state championship with a 2-0 win over Bishop Kenny for its fourth straight title.

Cypress Bay came up short in its bid for its first state title, losing 1-0 in penalty kicks to Lake Mary, while Jupiter lost in the 7A semifinals.

St. Thomas Aquinas freshman Camila Velez, left, scored the game-winning goal to help the Raiders win their state-leading 16th state championship with a 1-0 6A victory over Niceville at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in Deland. (Samantha Balanovich, Sam B. Photography/Courtesy) Raiders celebrate ‘Sweet 16’ with first title since 2017

St. Thomas Aquinas junior goalkeeper Aimee Colson was a stalwart in front of the net as the Raiders, after a bit of a hiatus, added their 16th state championship, to keep that record by themselves.

Freshman forward Camilla Velez scored in the 21st minute to give the Raiders (23-2-1) all the offense they would need to take home the hardware as they topped Niceville 1-0 in the 6A state championship game on Wednesday morning. Both teams entered with Top-six national rankings, according to MaxPreps.

Velez took a short corner from senior Bianca Raskin and floated it over the outstretched arms of Niceville sophomore goalkeeper Eden Shaw from 30 yards out for the winning tally, her seventh goal of the season.

“Scoring in the state final, and it being the only goal, was insane,” Velez said by phone. “I took the corner from Bianca and sent the ball toward the goal, figuring the goalie would bobble it and someone would tap it in.

“When I realized I scored, I was running around like crazy,” she continued. “I got so hyped up, and it was amazing for me. I can’t stop thinking about it. It was my biggest goal ever and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

The Raiders, ranked sixth in the nation by MaxPreps, closed out the season with seven straight shutouts. Colson came up big in the 64th minute when she came out on a breakaway and saved a shot attempt by Taylor Kerle at the top of the penalty area. It was her 14th shutout of the season.

“I thought she was going to shoot from out far, but then I saw her start to dribble, and I was already out and didn’t hesitate,” Colson said. “I only needed to make two saves, but as a goalkeeper, you always have to be ready. We had no doubt we were going to win.”

Niceville (19-2-1), which entered the game ranked fifth in the country and seeking its first title, saw its 15-game win streak come to an end.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored twice in the opening 32 minutes of the contest and held on for a 2-0 victory over Viera in the 6A semifinal on Monday. Bianca Raskin scored in the 14th minute, and Madison McKeon scored in the 32nd to lift the Raiders.

“This is what you dream about,” said St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Bryan Hantak. “Especially with the heartbreak of losing last year in the championship game. The girls were crying on the bus ride home, and (senior) Lauryn Smith, our center back, stood up and said, ‘We are not going to let this happen again.’ That was awesome to see. This senior class was very close. We pushed so hard, and it was a fun year.”

American Heritage girls soccer team celebrates its fourth straight 4A championship and 14th overall following a 2-0 victory over Bishop Kenny in the state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium in Deland. (American Heritage Athletics/Courtesy) American Heritage blanks Bishop Kenny

American Heritage senior defender Victoria Burns has followed in her mother’s footsteps — literally and figuratively.

Burns won her fourth straight girls state soccer championship on Saturday morning as the nation’s No. 3-ranked Patriots blanked No. 18 Bishop Kenny 2-0 for the 4A title.

Burns and fellow senior defender Zaharia Freeman both helped American Heritage freshman goalkeeper Marlee Mills record her 15th shutout of the season. Freeman also figured in the scoring, and both players leave with four rings.

“This is really cool because my mom (Jennifer Fried) won five state championships at Heritage, and the last one was in 2006,” said Burns, who, like Freeman, were team captains.

American Heritage (18-0-1) applied pressure for most of the first half and was finally rewarded in the 36th minute.

Freeman floated a ball into the box, and it was mishandled by the Bishop Kenny goalkeeper and landed at the feet of sophomore forward Ariana Doles, who deposited it into the goal for her seventh tally of the year and a 1-0 lead.

American Heritage iced the game in the 77th minute when Mae Collins served a corner kick that fellow freshman Julianna Soto headed toward the goal. Bishop Kenny and Cano were unable to clear the ball out of danger, and senior Emma Torres scored for a 2-0 advantage.

“When the clock hit zero, I had a lot of emotions going through my head,” said Freeman, who is signed with Rollins. “It is the most surreal feeling. I got to play my freshman year and win a state championship with my sister, and I thought about this being my last game ever for the school. I cried. I’m not going to lie.”

American Heritage closed out the year riding a 31-game unbeaten string since a 2-1 loss to Cape Coral Mariner in Dec. 2024.

The only blemish on this year’s mark was a season-opening 2-2 tie against the defending 3A state champions Somerset Canyons.

“We manifested it,” said Patriots coach Cindy Marcial, who has won nine of those state championships as the team’s coach. “We graduated eight or nine seniors from last year’s team, and then lost a couple of players who were called up for their (age group) national teams, so we had to adjust. We had to grind more, and this year’s team was very technical, and they were very close.”

American Heritage advanced to the state title game as Torres scored the lone goal, and freshman Marlee Mills needed to make one key save in the second half to lift the Patriots to a 1-0 victory over Bishop Moore in a rematch of last year’s 4A state final.

“We got the free kick, and I saw the gap and kicked it in,” Torres said of her goal. “I am very proud that I was able to score in the state semifinal and how our team just stepped up.”

Cypress Bay falls in final in PKs

Cypress Bay coach Kate Dwyer said this year’s trip to the finals felt different, even though she left DeLand without an elusive state championship. The No. 9 nationally ranked Lightning (21-2) fell to No. 2-ranked Lake Mary, 1-0 (4-3 PKs) in the 7A title game.

Dwyer, who picked up her 350th career win earlier in the year, graduated 12 seniors from last year’s team that fell 2-0 in that title game against Lake Mary, including three D1 college players.

In the game, Cypress Bay junior goalkeeper Alejandra Duran had seven saves, including one on a penalty kick.

“Nobody thought we would get to this point,” said Dwyer, whose team owned a 4-0 win over state champion St. Thomas Aquinas earlier in the year. “After we beat St. Thomas, we knew we had something special. I told the girls to enjoy it. It was probably one of the closest teams we have ever had and one of the most technical. They really looked to play possession, and in the championship game, they just played their hearts out. I am beyond proud of how they did. They followed the game plan perfectly.”

Senior Mackenzie Rector saw to it that Cypress Bay would play for a fifth state title in seven years as she scored three first-half goals as the Lightning topped Newsome 3-2.

“I don’t think I ever scored three goals in a half,” said Rector, who was on the team all four years. “The harder it is, the more gratifying it is when you win. We’ve never been this close. We’ve never been this together. We had great chemistry.”

Jupiter falls in 7A semifinals

Jupiter fell to Lake Mary in the state semifinal as the Rams scored twice right after the halftime break to take a 2-0 lead and coasted to the 5-0 victory.

Jupiter (14-7) was making its second straight trip to the final four and fifth in school history. The Warriors lost in the state final in 1978, and in the semifinals in 1989, 1991 and the past two years. The Warriors graduated nine seniors from last year’s team.

“The loss of Makayla (Greenland) was felt dramatically,” said Jupiter coach Kody Drake, who lost his center defender with a knee injury moments before halftime. “The girls were crying in the locker room, and Lake Mary was very strong and talented. We struggled to regain momentum after halftime, especially with Makayla out. We had some fantastic chances in the first half; we just didn’t put them away.”

GAINESVILLE — On the eve of college basketball’s biggest month, Florida coach Todd Golden’s red-hot Gators looked like a team ready for another deep postseason run.

With a 111-77 win Saturday night against No. 20 Arkansas, the No. 7 Gators ended a flawless February 8-0 and poised for another memorable March — the time when championship teams find their stride.

“Didn’t didn’t lose In February, got to try to not lose in March either,” Golden said.

Florida’s one-sided showing already earned Golden’s squad a title. The win dropped Arkansas (21-8, 11-5 SEC) out of the conference race and left the Gators (23-6, 14-2 SEC) two games ahead of Alabama (22-7, 12-4) with two games to go, ensuring Florida at least a share of the school’s eighth regular-season league title.

To celebrate, Florida players and coaches cut down the nets and donned championship hats and T-shirts. The school unveiled a banner.

But the Gators aren’t satisfied with Mississippi State up next Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.

“We want the whole thing for ourselves,” small forward Thomas Haugh said.

Florida head coach Todd Golden yells at his team during the No. 7 Gators' 34-point win against No. 20 Arkansas Saturday at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Noah Lantor)

Saturday night’s high-stakes matchup pitting two national championship-winning coaches became a showcase of the Gators’ improved depth, versatility and killer instinct.

“There wasn’t a guy out here they could stop,” Golden said. “We just kept scoring and scoring and scoring.”

Seven Gators scored in double figures for the first time since 2017, including a team-leading 22 points by Haugh, as UF shot a blistering 54.8% from the floor. Center Rueben Chinyelu recorded his 17th double-double, with 12 points and 16 rebounds in 23 minutes as Florida held a 51-31 advantage on the glass. Led by guard Urban Klavzar’s 14 points, the Gators outscored the Razorback reserves 33-23 as coach John Calipari lost for the first time in Gainesville since 2018 while at Kentucky.

“I  think we’re playing as good as anybody in America right now,” Golden said.

During his 33 seasons, including his second in Fayetteville, Calipari has rarely had a team left in the dust like his Razorbacks Saturday night.

The 34-point margin of defeat tied the largest of the 67-year-old Hall of Famer’s career.

“They took it to us,” he said. “Now, I will tell you that certainly doesn’t look like my team, the one I was coaching today. But this happens sometimes.”

Despite six consecutive wins on Florida’s home floor, Calipari has endured some beatings in the O’Dome, including four-double digits defeats in a six-game stretch from 2013-18.

No Calipari loss in Gainesville came close to Saturday night’s as a sellout crowd of 11,076, national TV audience and 16 NBA scouts looked on while the Gators moved to 42-3 at home during the past three seasons.

The Florida Gators pose for a team photo after clinching at least a share of SEC regular- season title by beating Arkansas Saturday in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Noah Lantor)

Arkansas put up fight early on. A jumper by star freshman and SEC-leading scorer Darius Acuff Jr. gave his team a 16-11 lead.

But the Gators answered an 8-0 Razorbacks’ run with a 12-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Klavzar for a 23-16 lead. 

The Gators built a 24-point lead during the first half and never led by fewer than 19 points the rest of the way.

Another Klavzar 3-pointer pushed the Gators’ lead to 30 points for the first time, at 73-43 with 13:22 remaining.

Calipari watched helplessly as the Gators continued to pile on, building the lead as many as 37 points.

“I wish it would have gone faster,” he quipped.

The only drama remaining the rest of the way involved Florida point guard Boogie Fland, who transferred from Arkansas in May. The 6-foot-3 sophomore scored 14 points and had four assists and no turnovers, but left the game with 5:12 remaining after he landed hard on the floor and headed to the locker room with trainers.

The 19-year-old rejoined his team for the postgame celebration. The Gators hope more are to come, with the SEC and NCAA tournaments on the horizon.

An undefeated February and NET ranking of No. 5 has positioned the reigning national champions to again earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.

“We got a lot to still accomplish; this can’t be the best thing that happened to us this year,” Golden said. “We’ve opened up a lot of opportunities for ourselves down the stretch.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

March Madness was in full effect Saturday night.

A near sellout crowd was on hand to show its support for red-hot UCF, which was riding a three-game winning streak that included a road sweep of Utah and No. 19 BYU. Unfortunately, fans went home disappointed as UCF fell short after trailing by as many as 15 points before eventually losing to Bayor, 87-86.

The Knights tied the game at 86 with 25 seconds left, but guard Riley Kugel was called for a foul as Baylor’s Obi Agbim attempted a 3-point shot with 1.3 seconds left. Agbim missed the first free throw, made the second and missed the third, but it bounced away as time expired.

“I just wanted to make sure we had basically a helmet on the helmet, which means everybody had a man, so no one was free and we were going to just guard as hard as we could the guy that was in front of us,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Unfortunately, we picked up the foul and the young man made a free throw and then he ran the clock out by throwing it off the rim.”

“It was a petty foul, but it’s a part of the game. It’s basketball,”  UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell said.

Kugel scored a team-high 26 points in his return to the lineup after missing the past two games with an undisclosed lower leg injury.

UCF (20-8, 9-7 Big 12) had its three-game winning streak snapped with the loss, as the Knights dropped to 13-4 at Addition Financial Arena this season.

Baylor (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) won just its third game in February and the third road contest this season. The Bears are hoping to avoid their worst season since the 2006-07 campaign.

The Knights opened the game with solid defense, holding Baylor to just 33% (3-of-9) shooting from the floor through the first seven minutes.

The Bears snapped out of their early funk, going on a 20-9 run to grab a 32-26 advantage with 7 minutes left in the first half.

During that run, UCF lost center Jeremy Foumena, who rolled his ankle on a missed layup and was helped off the floor and back into the locker room by the training staff. He never returned.

Dawkins didn’t have an update on Foumena’s status following the game.

“I haven’t spoken to the trainer exactly about what’s going on with him, other than he took a tough fall, and we’ll see,” he said.

Foumena’s absence was particularly painful after Stillwell and John Bol picked up two fouls and were forced to ride the bench for the final six minutes of the half. The absence of Stillwell and Bol opened the door for reserve Elijah Hulsewe to see his first significant minutes since the team played Mercer on Dec. 17.

The Knights, however, had no answer for redshirt sophomore guard Cameron Carr, who connected on four early 3-pointers and led the Bayor with 20 points in the first half.

Carr helped fuel the Bears, who went on a 24-12 run over the final six minutes, cruising to a 56-42 halftime advantage.

UCF opened the second half with a 6-0 run to cut the Baylor lead to 56-48, forcing the Bears to take a quick timeout with 17:53 left in the game.

An offensive rebound and bucket by Bol made it an 8-0 run by the Knights and a layup by Jordan Burks made it 10-0, sending the announced crowd of 8,735 into a frenzy.

Baylor didn’t score its first points of the second half until the 15:59 mark.

The Knights would go on a 16-4 run, closing the gap to 60-58 heading into the first media timeout with 13:55.

Bol picked up his third foul with 13:18 left in the game, but Dawkins rolled the dice and left his big man on the court.

“He was doing a lot of good things for us and we missed him in the first half,” Dawkins said of his decision to leave the sophomore on the court. “He did a good job of maybe changing some shots, getting some rebounds that maybe we wouldn’t have gotten with him out of the game.”

Bol finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds, while tying a season high with 5 blocked shots.

Stillwell picked up his third foul less than a minute later and was replaced by Devan Cambridge.

Baylor went on another run to push its lead back to double-digits at 76-65 with 7:27 left.

But UCF wouldn’t go away, chipping away until the BU lead was 80-78 with 4:10 remaining before the final media timeout. But after a Baylor basket, Bol picked up his fourth foul on the next possession and left the game.

UCF tied the game at 84 with 1:03 before an Agbim basket gave Baylor an 86-84 advantage. On the Knights’ next possession, Cambridge tied the game at 86 with 25 seconds left thanks to a pair of free throws. That set up the Bears’ final possession.

Carr led four BU players in double-digits with 26 points, followed by Dan Skillings with 15, Isaac Williams IV with 14 and Agbim with 12.

Burks added 12 points while Stillwell had 11 for UCF. Themus Fulks had 8 points and 10 assists.

UCF wraps up its home schedule by hosting Oklahoma State on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+). The Knights finish the regular season at West Virginia on March 6 (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

By JON GAMBRELL

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after almost 37 years in power raises paramount questions about the country’s future. The contours of a complex succession process began to take shape the morning after Khamenei’s assassination.

Here is what to know:

A temporary leadership council assumes duties

As outlined in its constitution, Iran on Sunday formed a council to assume leadership duties and govern the country.

The council is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are its members who will step in and “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”

A panel of clerics selects a new supreme leader

Though the leadership council will govern in the interim, an 88-member panel called the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible” pick a new supreme leader under Iranian law.

The panel consists entirely of Shiite clerics who are popularly elected every eight years and whose candidacies are approved by the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional watchdog. That body is known for disqualifying candidates in various elections in Iran and the Assembly of Experts is no different. The Guardian Council barred former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate whose administration struck the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from election for the Assembly of Experts in March 2024.

Khamenei’s son could be a possible contender

Clerical deliberations about succession and machinations over it take place far from the public eye, making it hard to gauge who may be a top contender.

Previously, it was thought Khamenei’s protégé, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, may try to take the mantle. However, he was killed in a May 2024 helicopter crash. That has left one of Khamenei’s sons, Mojtaba, a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, as a potential candidate, though he has never held government office. But a father-to-son transfer in the case of a supreme leader could spark anger, not only among Iranians already critical of clerical rule, but also among supporters of the system. Some may see it as un-Islamic and in line with creating a new, religious dynasty after the 1979 collapse of the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s government.

A transition like this has happened only once before

There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of supreme leader of Iran, the paramount decision-maker since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 1989, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died at age 86 after being the figurehead of the revolution and leading Iran through its bloody eight-year war with Iraq. This transition now comes after Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 as well.

The vast powers of a supreme leader

The supreme leader is at the heart of Iran’s complex power-sharing Shiite theocracy and has final say over all matters of state.

He also serves as the commander-in-chief of the country’s military and the powerful Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force that the United States designated a terrorist organization in 2019 and which Khamenei empowered during his rule. The Guard, which has led the self-described “Axis of Resistance,” a series of militant groups and allies across the Middle East meant to counter the U.S. and Israel, also has extensive wealth and holdings in Iran.

CORAL GABLES — Ryan Bilka came in to relieve Rob Evans, who put two runners on in a 4-4 game after a strong outing. Bilka walked the first batter he faced.

Then he struck out Jacob Kendall. He followed that by striking out Kyle Jones. One more out, and he would have escaped the bases-loaded, no-out jam.

Bilka induced a fly ball to center field that Mikey Torres tracked down. He celebrated. Then third-base umpire Travis Carlson sent the Hurricanes back to the field. He called a balk on the play. The inning would continue with the Gators up by a run.

Miami could not get another run, and Florida got insurance runs. The Gators took the three-game series with an 8-4 victory over UM at Mark Light Field on Saturday night. Florida has beaten rival Miami in the last five series they have played and 11 of the last 12 series the teams have played since 2015.

“We had a chance,” UM coach J.D. Arteaga said. “We had a chance till the very end there.”

When speaking to the media after the game, neither Arteaga nor catcher Alex Sosa said how or if the umpires explained the call.

The Hurricanes struck early. After UF allowed an infield single and an error, Miami right fielder Derek Williams hit a three-run home run to left-center field to give UM a quick 3-0 lead.

Miami pitcher Rob Evans had a relatively easy first inning but ran into trouble in the second. Three successive Gators singled to start the inning, loading the bases with no outs. Freshman Sam Miller drove in a run with a single to right field, and junior Kyle Jones drove in two more with a double into the left-field gap. A fourth run came in to score on a wild pitch, and the Hurricanes’ lead was quickly erased.

Evans bounced back from his rough second inning, striking out the next seven batters he faced. Between the second inning and the seventh, he retired 13 consecutive batters. He finished the game with 12 strikeouts.

“That’s what we expected out of him,” Arteaga said. “That’s the guy that we saw throwing against our own guys all spring in intersquad and stuff like that. So I’m not surprised to see what he did with what he did today.”

Miami evened the score at four when center fielder Michael Torres doubled, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly by Daniel Cuvet.

Evans’ night came to an end after he started the seventh inning with a walk and a hit by pitch. Bilka replaced him and nearly escaped the inning without any damage — but then the third-base umpire called the game-deciding balk.

Gators first baseman Ethan Surowiec hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning, giving Florida breathing room to close out the game in the bottom half of the inning.

The Gators and Hurricanes play the final game of the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“Win, loss, baseball’s baseball,” Sosa said. “I love the game. The boys are coming out here. We’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll be back fighting. Every game matters.”

 

FORT LAUDERDALE — Junior guard Caden Daughtry scored 13 of his team-high 21 points in the second quarter to break open a close game as host and defending state champion Calvary Christian throttled St. Andrew’s 88-65 in a 3A boys regional final.

The Eagles (22-1), who defeated the Scots 80-66 on February 7, led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter, and jumped out to a 39-25 halftime cushion thanks to Daughtry’s heroics.

“The amount of work that we put in, I couldn’t let this team down,” Daughtry said. “We just stuck with it. I knew I had to separate the score, and I did. Our team is playing with all of the drive in the world. Right now, we are 22-1, and we’ve come too far to lose.”

The nation’s second-ranked team, according to MaxPreps, is headed back to state for a fifth time. The Eagles have won the previous four times (2017, 2021, 2022, 2025). Calvary will face University School in the final four on March 9 in Jacksonville.

Qualifying for the state championship wasn’t the first thing on Eagles coach Cilk McSweeney’s mind. In the past two seasons, the Eagles haven’t lost to a South Florida team since a 50-48 setback against North Broward Prep in the regional semifinals on Feb. 24,  2024. They’ve won 23 straight against local teams during that span.

“In two years, we haven’t lost to a local team, so to me, that is big-time,” McSweeney said. “We have beaten some nationally ranked teams along the way, but the biggest thing is let’s dominate at home. We dominate at home among our peers and our community. We are about greatness. That’s been our culture.

“Our job is not finished,” he added. “For us, the biggest thing is we have to finish the job. Let’s dominate and get this done. It takes a lot of practice to develop the chemistry, and this is a special group.”

Calvary Christian senior forward Aiden Bolden had six points in the first quarter, including two impressive dunks, and senior guard Jacob Zhu scored six straight points as the Eagles seized a 9-2 advantage and were never threatened. Bolden finished with 17 points, off five dunks. The team finished with 13 dunks in the game.

“Getting those early dunks gets my team going,” Bolden said. “We just wanted to sign the game off early. We tried to come out here and make them not want to play no more.”

Senior wing K.J. Francis and Zhu each finished with 11 points for the Eagles. It also marked the eighth win in a row over the Scots, who finished the season 24-5.

St. Andrew’s senior guard Xander Gerard finished with a game-high 25 points, all in the second half when the game was already decided. He was the lone player to hit double figures for his team.

“The things we tried to do were eliminate turnovers, get back on defense, and make sure their guys didn’t leak out and score easy baskets,” said St. Andrew’s coach John O’Connell. “(Calvary) is an exceptional team, and you have to play perfectly to beat them. We didn’t do that today.”

Regional finals

Saturday

7A

1. Miami Columbus def. 3. Coral Glades 76-58

6A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas def. 3. Miramar 74-43

5A

1. Pembroke Pines Charter def. 2. Belen Jesuit 75-51

4A

1. Suncoast def. 2. Stranahan 55-50 OT

3A

1. Calvary Christian def. 3. St. Andrew’s 88-65

2. University School def. 1. Cardinal Gibbons 74-63

2A

1. Santa Fe Catholic def. 3. Benjamin 50-36

1A

1. Sagemont Prep def. 2. Dade Christian 76-34

General Daily Insight for March 01, 2026

The process of healing can genuinely make us stronger. While the Moon trines vigilant Chiron at 9:08 pm EST, we’ll probably find it easier to share and repair feelings with care. Everyone’s hearts are closer to the surface than usual, so being tolerant of one another’s idiosyncrasies could be necessary to avoid strife. Spending time with a younger generation or expressing our inner child would be a good way to shake off any remaining tension. Our friends deserve the effort it takes to be considerate.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Creative sparks crave room to play. The nurturing Moon comforts therapeutic Chiron, brightening your 5th House of Amusement — this is your moment to attempt a new way of expressing yourself without judging yourself. You could show a draft to a friend, but be sure to specify whether you want moral support or critical advice. With Chiron in your sign, poking your sore spots, some effort may be required to keep the tone light-hearted. Let play lead you toward realistic, honest confidence.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your home should be a soft place to land after a long day. The 4th house, which rules your private domain, is empowered alongside your equally private 12th house by today’s Moon-Chiron trine. This is your cosmic permission to stay at home and take a nap! If you can’t sit still, do your best to stick with home-based activities. You could tidy up any disorganized corners or invite others over for a chill get-together. Engaging in calm routines helps your home feel safe.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Certain current messages demand extra composure when communicated. The moody Moon and wary Chiron trine across your talkative 3rd house and your convivial 11th house, guiding your explanations of complex issues. You might ask a trusted co-worker what they heard, then listen for the feeling under their words to find the path forward. Support from your 11th house helps you translate ideas for a group, even if the chat grows heated, without losing your playful tone. As you speak, let optimistic curiosity guide each reply.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

When comfort meets courage, tenderness becomes strength. The temperamental Moon hugs vulnerable Chiron, steadying your 2nd House of Resources and your 10th House of Control. Budgeting takes a lot of mental effort, and that should be respected. You could be analyzing your own resources or managing the accounts for a professional project. If you need to ask for more funding, the stars are here to lend you the confidence necessary for that process. Value your time and request fair terms for your work!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your presence changes the room without trying. Ideas around identity take the spotlight as the Moon in your sign harmonizes with Chiron in your expansive 9th house, encouraging you to express who you are without pretense. Chiron, from your 9th house’s magnified perspective, offers a wider point of view that makes present events less intimidating. You may introduce yourself first or speak up online when discussing something controversial. Wherever you’re at, use a confident tone — even if you don’t quite feel it just yet.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

This evening favors reflection and release. Closure finally feels possible as Luna in your pensive 12th house cooperates with tender Chiron in your 8th House of Delicate Topics. Processing your feelings isn’t easy, but it is possible. Doing so will put you in a better place for any upcoming or ongoing tough discussions with the people who matter most to you. They can also benefit from this, as your self-actualization makes it easier for everyone to share. Give yourself grace, and keep the pace gentle.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Libra, friends notice and appreciate your honesty. The Moon supports vigilant Chiron, warming your 11th House of Networks and helping you name what your current team — official or not — needs without tipping into blame. Set reachable expectations from the get-go, and seek a manageable pace so that everyone can contribute happily. Support from Chiron in your partner zone means people important to you can meet you in the middle, even if past missteps made things tense. Ask and offer in equal measure.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Results build as focus meets steady effort. Professional credibility grows under a harmonious Moon-Chiron trine, helping you show leadership through thoughtful action. You might propose a clear timeline to a supervisor — or you might BE that supervisor for someone else! Either way, you’re keeping your eyes on the prize. Steady backing from Luna in your authority sector and Chiron in your wellness zone turns small habits into credibility, especially when you show up consistently. Channel hypothetical intensity into movement that others can see.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Take a step back and acknowledge the big picture as soon as you can. The Moon is uplifting sore Chiron through a healing trine. This, in turn, encourages you to soothe your worries — potentially by exploring them through creative initiatives. Something you read recently could be the source of amazing inspiration. If current events or personal issues are dragging you down, put them in the context of history (yours or the world’s). They may not be as bad as they feel in the moment!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

When trust deepens, shared spaces feel safer. This is possible under the unified trine between the Moon in your 8th House of Intimacy and Chiron in your 4th House of Comfort. Scary discussions are still intimidating when you’re having them with people you love. After all, it’s impossible to only ever love reasonable individuals — no matter how much you might want to. Fortunately, today, Luna and Chiron are supporting your efforts to review boundaries, discuss shared bills, and generally keep the focus on fairness.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

This afternoon invites listening before speaking. Sore-spot Chiron is balanced out by a trine from the caring Moon, which supports your efforts regarding communication with your loved ones. This is a great moment to check in with anyone you haven’t spoken to in some time, even if you didn’t leave off on the best note last time you interacted. Whatever the shape of your connections, listening first helps both sides grasp the heart of the matter. Choose speech that respects every voice involved.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Pisces, small habits shape a kinder rhythm. Any Chiron-based soreness is softened by Luna’s embrace, allowing their trine to bolster your sensible 6th house and your materialistic 2nd house. Making small adjustments can bring real relief right when you need it. Try a slower pace for the first hour, and notice how patience steadies your focus and keeps distractions from running the show. Better habits help you respect your time on busy days. Do your best to start a routine that makes work feel kinder.

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday’s 115-105 victory over the Houston Rockets:

– Yes, finally some extended side-by-side again for the Heat with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.

– A reminder that big sometimes can be better.

– So a double-double for Adebayo.

– And one for Ware.

– The interesting part is almost always being in a zone with Ware in the game.

– The trust with individual defense is not there.

– With questions about such ability.

– In the first half, there was quality time together.

– In the second half, initially it was more either/or.

– And then, both there for the finish.

– By design.

– In this one, it was as if coach Erik Spoelstra said enough when it came to being beaten on the boards.

– And that certainly is one area where Ware has more than held his own.

– With Norman Powell out, more opportunity to turn to something bigger.

– With trust this time even in the fourth quarter.

– Having reached the point where it’s almost surprising to see games like this, with Ware with more than 20 minutes.

– Indeed, the rare box score when Adebayo plays 35:00 and Ware 28:35.

– With Powell (groin) out, Tyler Herro opened alongside Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.

– That lineup entered 0-2.

– Herro then was called for a double-technical foul along with Kevin Durant, as the two jawed after a timeout.

–The Rockets opened with a lineup of Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün.

– Ware was first off the Heat bench.

– Promptly converting his 101st 3-pointer of his career.

–  Jaime Jaquez Jr. followed.

– And then Kasparas Jakucionus.

– With Simone Fontecchio remaining in the rotation for nine deep.

–  Adebayo then played alongside Ware, even with Adebayo called for his second foul with 2:24 left in the opening period.

– By the end of the opening period, the Heat were 10 deep, with Dru Smith entering.

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– The rotation tightened in the second half, with no Fontecchio and limited Jakucionis.

– Spoelstra said it can’t just be Herro in Powell’s absence..

– “We have enough guys to put points on the board and guys have had those opportunities throughout this course of the season to prove that they can step up,” he said.

– Spoelstra, who will be Team USA Olympic coach at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, was asked about the Rockets’ Durant saying that even at 40 he hopes to be part of that mix.

– “That’s the culture of USA Basketball, you just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this,’ ” Spoelstra said. “And you can feel his passion for representing the country and the USA on the jersey. He’s been incredible in those competitions.”

– The game opened the two-game season series that concludes March 21 in Houston.

– That made the Rockets the final team for the Heat to face the first time this season.

– The Heat already have concluded their season series with 14 other teams: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, LA Clippers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and Utah.

MIAMI — This time the Miami Heat got closing time right.

After blown fourth-quarter leads in the previous two games, road losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, Erik Spoelstra’s team this time held its ground in a 115-105 victory Saturday over the Houston Rockets at Kaseya Center.

Unable to score at the close in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Heat got solid closing play from Pelle Larsson to record one of their more impressive victories of the season.

“We’ve been dropping these games and our recent losses by not at all providing any resistance,” Spoelstra said, “and so there’s been these massive runs,  opponents have been going on, and that just puts so much pressure on your offense. Tonight we held them to 22 in the fourth, and then we don’t see it as a coincidence, all of a sudden guys start making plays on the other end.”

The game was the first of at least four for the Heat without All-Star guard Norman Powell, who on Friday was diagnosed with a strained right groin that has him listed as week-to-week.

In addition, the Heat lost forward Andrew Wiggins for an extended span in the second half for eight stitches inside his mouth, after taking an elbow to the face during an offensive foul by Rockets center Alperen Şengün. Wiggins returned with 9:28 to play.

The Heat got 24 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, 13 points and 15 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, 20 points from Larsson  and 18 from Tyler Herro. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 32 points.

“It’s how do we build off of this type of game, where it was in the clutch,” Adebayo said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 32-28 after the end of the first period, after overcoming an early 10-point Rockets lead.

The Heat then went up 13 in the second period before Houston closed the half with a 52-51 lead.

In the third, there then was an early eight-point Heat lead, but the advantage was reduced to 85-83 entering the fourth.

The Heat again went up eight, taking a 100-92 lead with 6:10 to play on a Larsson 3-pointer. But with the Rockets then closing within three, Wiggins gave the Heat some wiggle room with a 3-point play with 2:24 to play for an eight-point advantage.

“Pelle was terrific in that fourth quarter,” Spoelstra said.

Larsson said it was about being attack-minded.

“We just got straight to it, to the paint,” he said.

2. Herro from start: With Powell sidelined, Herro made his first start since Jan. 15 and his 12th of his abbreviated season, in an opening lineup rounded out by Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson.

That lineup entered 0-2.

“Tyler, for sure is a guy who’s already starting to get in that rhythm,” Spoelstra said pregame, “we need it.”

The game was the fifth back for Herro after missing the previous 15 with a rib injury. He closed 8 of 12 from the field.

No issue with the limited shot total, Herro said.

“We slowed the ball up a little bit and in the last three minutes got the ball in good spots for Pelle, for Bam, which they had advantages, and we were able to exploit them a little bit,” Herro said.

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3. As for Norm: Powell’s groin strain has him listed as week to week, with Spoelstra essentially confirming pregame that Powell also will miss at least the next three games.

“I feel for Norm because he wants to be out there for all the games, especially these moments, you know, right now,” Spoelstra said, “But we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week.”

Spoelstra did not hide from the sobering reality.

“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” he said of his All-Star guard, “I mean, he’s proven this year that he’s an explosive scorer in our system. But we have other guys who can step up.”

4. Adebayo/Ware: Largely reluctant lately to play big men Adebayo and Ware together, Spoelstra did just that from the end of the first period into the second, even after Adebayo picked up his second foul.

The initial pairing ended when Adebayo checked out with 8:33 left in the second period, with the Heat up 41-28, the Heat outscoring the Rockets by 16 during that stint. But as soon as Adebayo checked out, the Rockets went on a 7-0 run.

The two again were on the court late in the third period, but that time only for 90 seconds, with the Heat outscored by three. But when Adebayo returned in the fourth, it again was alongside Ware for closing time.

“We leaned into it for sure,” Spoelstra said of the pairing. “Both of those guys were really good in our zone. Kel’el, that was one of his better jobs in the zone, just communicating and protecting.”

Adebayo and Ware had played just 40 seconds together in Thursday night’s road loss to the 76ers and two minutes together in Tuesday night’s road loss to the Bucks.

“It felt good,” Ware said of getting back to the pairing. “It felt like the days when I’ve  played alongside him recently. So, I mean, it felt good.”

5. The Bam boost: For his part, Adebayo for a third consecutive game converted multiple 3-pointers, largely having his way against the defense of the Rockets’ Şengün.

Adebayo was coming off a 29-point, 14-rebound performance in Thursday night’s loss to the 76ers.

Adebayo reached his 24th double-double of the season with 4:40 left in the third period.

He closed 9 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.

By JON GAMBRELL, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and JOSH BOAK

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. and Israel launched an attack Saturday on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.

President Donald Trump said in a video posted on social media that the U.S. had begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government — it will be yours to take.”

Trump acknowledged that there could be American casualties following Iran strikes, saying “that often happens in war.”

Strike hit near Supreme Leader’s office

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was in his offices at the time of the strike. He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown. The attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

Iran has said it hasn’t enriched since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.

Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). That puts all the Mideast and some of eastern Europe in their range. There is no public evidence of Iran seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticized its space program as potentially allowing it to one day.

Explosions rock Israel

Iran has vowed to respond if attacked, including saying American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets. Hours after the strikes on Iran, explosions rocked northern Israel as the country worked to intercept incoming Iranian missiles.

The blasts echoed just after the Israeli military said it would be using its air defense systems to bring down the Iranian fire. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the ongoing attack.

Sirens also sounded in Jordan.

Several hospitals in Israel launched their emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.

Blasts heard in Tehran

Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital. Neighboring Iraq closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.

Trump wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests. Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.

More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.

Meanwhile, Iran shut down its airspace and mobile phone services were cut.

The warning to pilots came out as explosions rang out across Tehran.

___

Toropin reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

FORT LAUDERDALE — On Friday night, there was no doubting these Thomases.

St. Thomas Aquinas senior guard Ronneisha Thomas drained a dramatic 3-point basket with 13.1 seconds remaining to snap a 56-56 tie, and the Raiders held on for a 60-56 6A regional victory over visiting Nova.

Teammate London Thomas, a sophomore guard, led all scorers in the game with 27 points, including 18 points in the second half as the Raiders (20-8) rallied from two double-digit deficits to punch their ticket to the state tournament after failing to make it last season, ending a bid for a fifth straight state championship.

Both Ronneisha and London were coming off injuries. Ronneisha was sidelined during the BCAA Big 8 when Nova pulled out a 56-52 win, and the Raiders have won five straight since.

“I’m happy that we’re going to state,” said Ronneisha, who scored 12 points in her first game back after sitting out six weeks with a broken left hand (her non-shooting hand). “I work on that shot before the game and every day in practice. I know I believe in my team, and my team believed in me.”

London Thomas missed the past two games with an ankle injury, and after making just two free throws in the first quarter, she came alive in the second with seven points and then the huge second half. She also helped fuel a defensive effort that held Nova without a field goal in the final 6:01 of the game.

“We both came back from injury, and it was a real surreal moment,” London said. “We came into this game with the mindset to keep the team’s heads high. I’ve been working in the gym to get my legs back under me and get this victory, and we got the dub. I was a little bit flat in the first half, and I knew I had to turn it up.”

St. Thomas Aquinas coach Emily Williams said her team stayed together through trust and resilience. She applauded both Thomases for their performances.

“We kept cutting the lead and chipped away at their lead and said we had to win every two minutes,” Williams said. “That’s what they did. They stuck together and trusted each other. We said it is never over until it is over, and the clock hits zero.

“Ronneisha is a big part of our team, and we missed her when she was out,” Williams added. “She gets us going with her energy, and she was frustrated during the game because she wasn’t getting good looks. She made the big shot when she had to.”

Williams said London Thomas just took over the game in the second half.

“She said, ‘Coach, I got this,’” Williams said. “She proved she is a big-game player and came up big when we needed her.”

Nova (23-5) grabbed a 4-0 first-quarter lead before St. Thomas Aquinas went on a 13-2 run midway through the first half to take a 13-6 lead, its biggest of the first half.

Nova chipped away, and junior guard Kimora Exum hit a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining in the second quarter as the Titans seized a 30-26 halftime lead. London Thomas scored seven in the second quarter to keep the Raiders within striking distance.

Nova extended the lead to 45-34 with 3:20 left in the third when Nova junior guard YaNiyah Young hit a 3-pointer before the Raiders closed the period on an 8-0 run fueled by London Thomas.

“We just didn’t execute down the stretch,” said Nova coach Jason Hively. “We were playing well all night; we just didn’t execute and take care of the ball. We probably didn’t get the shots we wanted, and it didn’t end up the way we wanted it to.”

Nova senior guard Jaelynn Housey, an FAU signee, opened the fourth quarter with six points, and sophomore guard Ke’mora Evans added three points to stake the Titans back up to a 54-44 lead. Housey, who finished with 14 points, was held to just two free throws with 34.3 seconds left, which tied the game at 56 until Thomas hit her game-winner.

Sophomore small forward Laila Barnett hit a free throw to seal the game with 3.6 seconds left.

St. Thomas Aquinas also got 10 points from Catalina LaFreniere, while Nova was led in scoring by Evans with 15 points, Young with 13, and Exum (10).

Blanche Ely’s Sariyah Sabb (1) drives to the basket as Sebastian’s Ekklesia Anderson (2) defends during the first half of the 5A regional final girls basketball game. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

Other regional final results

5A

1. Blanche Ely def. 2. Sebastian River 63-31

4A

1. American Heritage def. 3. Northwestern 53-47

3A

1. Somerset Academy Canyons def. 2. Lincoln Park 47-46

1A

1. Grandview Prep def.2. Schoolhouse Prep 51-40

SUNRISE — Alex Lyon made 27 saves to beat his former Florida teammates for the second this month, helping the Buffalo Sabres top the Panthers 3-2 on Friday night for their eighth victory in 11 games.

Lyon played for the Panthers during the 2022-23 season. He has won two of his past four starts — both against Florida.

Beck Malenstyn gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead with 8:22 left, sending a slap shot from the point through traffic and past Daniil Tarasov. Florida challenged for goalie interference after Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson’s stick made contact with Tarasov’s glove, but the goal stood.

The Sabres won 2-1 at New Jersey on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. They are tied with Detroit for second place in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo has missed the playoffs an NHL-record 14 straight years.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. Florida, which has lost six of its past eight, is eight points behind Boston for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 23 games left.

Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs also scored for Buffalo. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett scored for Florida.

Buffalo got a needed insurance goal with 1:17 remaining on an empty-netter from Krebs. Florida cut it to a goal with 35 seconds left when Bennett’s shot went off the post and Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin inadvertently swept the puck in off of Lyon.

Florida played much of the game without defenseman Uvis Balinskis who blocked a shot late in the first period. After coming off the ice to get treated, Balinskis returned and played one more shift. He only played two in the second and did not come out for the third.

 

By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA

SAO PAULO (AP) — Pugapia and her daughters Aiga and Babawru lived for years as the only surviving members of the Akuntsu, an Indigenous people decimated by a government-backed push to develop parts of the Amazon rainforest. As they advanced in age without a child to carry on the line, many expected the Akuntsu to vanish when the women died.

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That changed in December, when Babawru — the youngest of the three, in her 40s — gave birth to a boy. Akyp’s arrival brought hope not just for the Akuntsu line but also for efforts to protect the equally fragile rainforest.

“This child is not only a symbol of the resistance of the Akuntsu people, but also a source of hope for Indigenous peoples,” said Joenia Wapichana, president of Brazil’s Indigenous protection agency, known as Funai. “He represents how recognition, protection and the management of this land are extremely necessary.”

Protecting Indigenous territories is widely seen as one of the most effective ways to curb deforestation in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest and a key regulator of global climate. Researchers warn that continued forest loss could accelerate global warming. A 2022 analysis by MapBiomas, a network of nongovernmental groups tracking land use, found Indigenous territories in Brazil had lost just 1% of native vegetation over three decades, compared with 20% on private land nationwide.

In Rondonia state, where the Akuntsu dwell, about 40% of native forest has been cleared, and what remains untouched is largely within conservation and Indigenous areas. The Akuntsu’s land stands out in satellite images as an island of forest surrounded by cattle pasture as well as soy and corn fields.

In the 1980s, deforestation pushed attacks in Rondonia

Rondonia’s deforestation traces back to a government-backed push to occupy the rainforest during Brazil’s military regime in the 1970s. Around the same time, an infrastructure program financed in part by the World Bank promoted domestic migration to the Amazon, including the paving of a highway across the state.

In the 1980s, Rondonia’s population more than doubled, according to census data. Settlers were promised land titles if they cleared the forest for agriculture and risked losing claims if Indigenous people were present, fueling violent attacks by hired gunmen on Indigenous groups such as the Akuntsu.

Funai made first contact with the Akuntsu in 1995, finding seven survivors. Experts believe they had numbered about 20 a decade earlier, when they were attacked by ranchers seeking to occupy the area. Funai agents found evidence of the assault, and when they contacted the Akuntsu, the survivors recounted what happened. Some still bore gunshot wounds.

The last Akuntsu man died in 2017. Since then, Babawru lived with her mother, Pugapia, and Aiga, her sister. The women, whose ages aren’t known for certain, have chosen to remain isolated from the non-Indigenous world, showing little interest in it.

In 2006, Funai granted territorial protection to the Akuntsu, establishing the Rio Omere Indigenous Land, which they have since shared with the Kanoe people. The two groups, once enemies, began maintaining contact, usually mediated by officials. The relationship is complex, with cooperation but also cultural differences and language barriers.

The Associated Press requested a facilitated interview with the women through Funai, but the agency didn’t respond.

Amanda Villa, an anthropologist with the Observatory of Isolated Peoples, said Akuntsu women depend on Kanoe men for tasks considered masculine, such as hunting and clearing fields. The two groups have also exchanged spiritual knowledge — the current Kanoe spiritual leader, for example, learned from the late Akuntsu patriarch.

But the most consequential development for the future of the Akuntsu may have occurred last year, when Babawru became pregnant by a Kanoe man.

Linguist Carolina Aragon is the only outsider able to communicate with the three women after years studying and documenting their language. She works closely with Funai, translating conversations almost daily through video calls. Aragon also supported Babawru remotely during her labor and was with her during an ultrasound exam that confirmed the pregnancy.

Aragon said Babawru was stunned by the news. “She said, ‘How can I be pregnant?’” Aragon recalled. Babawru had always taken precautions to avoid becoming pregnant.

Social collapse shaped the Akuntsu’s choices

The surviving Akuntsu women had decided they would not become mothers. The decision was driven not only by the absence of other men in their community, but also by the belief that their world was disorganized — conditions they felt were not suitable for raising a child.

“You can trace this decision directly to the violent context they lived through,” said Villa, the anthropologist. “They have this somewhat catastrophic understanding.”

The Akuntsu believed they could not bring new life into a world without Akuntsu men who could not only perform but also teach tasks the group considers male responsibilities, such as hunting and shamanism.

“A breakdown of social relations that followed the genocide shaped their lives and deepened over the years. That does lead people to think — and rethink — the future,” Aragon said. “But the future can surprise everyone. A baby boy was born.”

Aragon said the women were embarking on a “new chapter,” choosing to welcome the child and adapt their traditions with support from the Kanoe and Funai. Villa said the fact that the newborn is a boy creates the possibility of restoring male roles like hunter.

Researchers and officials who have long worked with the three women understood that protecting the territory depended on the Akuntsu’s survival as a people. They sought to avoid a repeat of what happened to Tanaru, an Indigenous man who was discovered after living alone and without contact for decades.

After the discovery, authorities struggled to protect Tanaru’s territory. After he died in 2022, non-Indigenous groups began disputing the land. Late last year, the federal government finally secured the area, turning it into a protected conservation unit.

Funai’s Wapichana said Babawru’s child “is a hope that this next generation will indeed include an Indigenous person, an Akuntsu, ensuring the continuity of this people.”

Through years of careful work, Funai secured territorial protection for the Akuntsu and helped foster ties with the Kanoe. The agency also arranged spiritual support from an allied shaman, allowing the women to feel safe bringing new life into the world after decades of fear and loss.

The Akuntsu form emotional bonds with the forest and with the birds. Now, they are strengthening those bonds with a new human life in their world.

“What kind of relationship will this boy have with his own territory?” Aragon said. “I hope it will be the best possible, because he has everything he needs there.”

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

DURHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Shoppers in upstate New York earlier this month turned up a rare find while perusing a local antique store this month: tucked next to a cookie jar made in the shape of a chicken was a live owl resting peacefully on a shelf.

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The state Department of Environmental Conservation said Friday that the incident happened on Feb. 21 in the hamlet of East Durham, about 127 miles north of Manhattan.

The agency said customers at The Market Place had spotted “something extremely lifelike” on one of the shelves and alerted store staff.

Environmental conservation police officers arrived to find a brown-and-white owl perched on a shelf with its eyes firmly shut.

The department said officers gently cradled the sleeping owl to remove it from the store, and then released it into a wooded area, where it flew into a nearby tree.

The bird, an eastern screech owl, is nocturnal and typically nests in tree cavities.

It is not immediately clear how it got inside the store. An email was sent to the store’s owners on Friday.

By JAIMIE DING and JULIE WATSON

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho was put on paid leave Friday while he is part of a federal investigation, two days after the FBI served search warrants at his home and the district’s headquarters.

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Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school district, which serves more than 500,000 students, nor have they accused Carvalho of any wrongdoing.

The move by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education came after two days of deliberation behind closed doors.

Carvalho became superintendent in 2022. He previously led the public schools in Miami.

Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, will take over the helm while Carvalho is on leave, the district said.

Carvalho has not responded to a request for comment. The FBI on Wednesday also searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere, an education technology company that had a contract with Los Angeles schools before it collapsed and its leader was indicted for fraud. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In 2024, Carvalho heavily touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named “Ed” designed to help students. But about three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district dropped its dealings with AllHere, which collapsed into bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft.

The school district said in a statement Wednesday that it “is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time.”

Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times. After Smith-Griffin was indicted, Carvalho said he would appoint a task force to examine what went wrong with the LA school district’s project, but there have been no public announcements about it since.

Kerr, an education technology salesperson who connects companies with schools, said she was never paid her $630,000 commission for her work in closing the AllHere deal with the LA district, according to a news organization, The 74, that covered the company’s bankruptcy hearings in 2024.

The 74 reported that Kerr had longstanding ties with Carvalho from when he oversaw the Florida district and that her son who worked for AllHere pitched the technology to LA school leaders after he took over the helm there. The Associated Press was unable to reach Kerr for comment.

Over the past five years in Los Angeles, Carvalho has been lauded for the district’s improvements to academic performance. He won similar praise while overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida’s largest school district, where the national superintendents association named him Superintendent of the Year in 2014.

Spain knighted the Portugal-born administrator in 2021 for his work in expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools.

Months later, Carvalho took the job in California and became a harsh critic of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, especially following raids in Los Angeles last year.

Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles at a critical moment, as the district found itself flush with funding from state and federal COVID-19 relief money but still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, including learning losses and declining enrollment. He previously sparred with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his order that schools not require masks during the pandemic.

The Miami-Dade school system said in a statement that it was aware of the investigation involving Carvalho but did not have any comment at this time.

Watson reported from San Diego.

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department has terminated its collective bargaining agreement with unionized workers employed at the Internal Revenue Service, the agency said Friday, in an escalation of President Donald Trump ’s push to exert more control over the federal workforce.

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The union contract for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service was also terminated this week, according to two people familiar with the decision. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media.

Workers at the IRS and the fiscal service bureau, which processes payments for the government, are represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. They were informed by agency leadership that Treasury terminated their collective bargaining agreements, using an executive order President Donald Trump signed last March as the authority for the terminations.

In a letter to IRS workers Friday, viewed by The Associated Press, IRS Chief Human Capital Officer Alex Kweskin told employees the move “deepens our commitment of operating as one IRS, a collaborative team focused on serving American taxpayers.”

The contract terminations come after Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, issued a memo this month to agency heads calling on them to comply with Trump’s March order and notify labor unions “that they are terminating any applicable CBAs (collective bargaining agreements), whether represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) or another labor union.”

The union had sued the federal government last year over Trump’s executive order.

And while a D.C. court issued a preliminary injunction against the government, that was stayed pending an appeal. Meanwhile, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued a decision in a separate case Thursday that cleared the way for the implementation of Trump’s executive order.

Doreen Greenwald, president of the Treasury employees union, said in a statement Friday that the IRS “cannot unilaterally end” its contract with the labor union. She said the federal sector labor statute requires the IRS to have a collective bargaining agreement “with the exclusive representative of its bargaining unit employees,” she said.

The National Treasury Employees Union represents roughly 150,000 employees in 37 departments and agencies.

Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper contributed to this report.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — An injured mother manatee and her calf were rescued this week from a river in Florida and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation, officials said.

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Drone pilots provided the rescuers with an aerial view, guiding their boat toward the manatees on Wednesday, then buzzing overhead to document the animals being pulled from the Orange River near Fort Meyers.

Video shared by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office shows the boat carrying Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staffers first make a wide circle around the sea cows to corral them in what looks like a fishing net.

Eventually, half a dozen people are able to heave the thrashing manatees onto the boat, sliding the mother and calf up into the open stern and the slippery deck. Sea cows can grow up to 10 feet long and 1,200 pounds.

The video shows at least one manatee later being offloaded in a sling at a boat ramp. The sheriff’s marine unit and advanced technology support unit assisted. Officials didn’t have details about how the mother manatee was injured or their current conditions.

The manatees were transported to SeaWorld Orlando, the wildlife agency’s Research Communications Director Kelly Richmond said.

The mother and calf are among at least six manatees rescued in the county since Feb. 19 because of cold stress, watercraft injuries and malnutrition. Statewide, at least 24 other manatees have been rescued this year, and more than 20 rehabilitated animals have been released through the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership.

The manatee mother and calf remained under close observation Friday at SeaWorld Orlando, where the team was focused on stabilizing the mother with supportive care, including hydration, Public Relations and Community Relations Director Stephanie Bechara said in an email to The Associated Press. Both were receiving antibiotics to help ward off and treat any possible infection, Bechara said, noting that it was still very early in the rehabilitation process.

Earlier this month, a manatee seeking warmer waters was rescued from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach.

By STEVE KARNOWSKI and ED WHITE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge on Friday extended an order protecting refugees in Minnesota who are lawfully in the U.S. from being arrested and deported, saying a Trump administration policy turns the “American Dream into a dystopian nightmare.”

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U.S. District Judge John Tunheim granted a motion by advocates for refugees to convert a temporary restraining order that he issued in January into a more permanent preliminary injunction while the case develops further.

The order applies only in Minnesota. But the implications of a new national policy on refugees that the Department of Homeland Security announced Feb. 19 were a major part of the discussion at a hearing held by the judge the next day.

“Minnesota refugees can now live their lives without fear that their own government will snatch them off the street and imprison them far from loved ones,” Kimberly Grano, an attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project, told The Associated Press.

The Trump administration asserts it has the right to arrest potentially tens of thousands of refugees across the U.S. who entered the country legally but don’t yet have green cards. A new Homeland Security memo interprets immigration law to say that refugees applying for green cards must return to federal custody one year after they were admitted to the U.S. so that their applications can be reviewed.

The judge, however, expressed disbelief in a 66-page opinion.

“This Court will not allow federal authorities to use a new and erroneous statutory interpretation to terrorize refugees who immigrated to this country under the promise that they would be welcomed and allowed to live in peace, far from the persecution they fled,” Tunheim said.

He said the U.S. decades ago promised refugees fleeing persecution that they could build a new life after rigorous background checks.

“We promised them the hope that one day they could achieve the American Dream,” Tunheim said. “The Government’s new policy breaks that promise — without congressional authorization — and raises serious constitutional concerns. The new policy turns the refugees’ American Dream into a dystopian nightmare.”

Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not immediately return a request for comment Friday.

Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers said during a court hearing last week that the government should have the right to arrest refugees one year after entering the U.S., but he also indicated that would not always happen.

The judge noted that one refugee in the case, identified as D. Doe, was arrested in January after being told that someone had struck his car.

“He was immediately flown to Texas, where he was interrogated about his refugee status. He was kept in ‘shackles and handcuffs’ for sixteen hours. D. Doe was ultimately released on the streets of Texas, left to find his way back to Minnesota,” Tunheim said.

White reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporter Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this story.

General Daily Insight for February 28, 2026

Soft words can mend small rifts around us. With educated Mercury conjoining lovely Venus at 12:35 am EST, messages are best sent with affection — even if we’ve been wronged by the recipient. We can mend a mix-up by offering a kind note, because this loving convergence supports simple requests and sincere apologies. As the nurturing Moon enters Leo, confidence is the best accessory (well, alongside a healthy dose of optimism). Heartfelt discussions lay the path to social success and personal peace.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Stay calm, Aries! Even flighty Mercury is soothed by its residence in your quiet 12th house, particularly once it conjoins Venus there. Do your best to avoid letting your mouth get ahead of your mind. You (and your loved ones) deserve the effort it takes to speak your true mind. Consider offering an apology to yourself or another, because healing grows when you soften your tone and let stubborn pride rest. If a memory aches, try to reframe the story with compassion for all involved.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

The stars are empowering teamwork and trust. Your 11th House of Collaboration lights up as clever Mercury meets Venus, the planet of connection, there. This makes conversations with large groups flow more smoothly. You could also reach out to a friend about how you can assist with a shared goal. If a community leader asks for support, choose a simple task you can finish today, then share your progress with a practical update. Invest in allies so progress stacks up over time.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your voice is beautiful right now, so use it! Mercury, the messenger, is embracing beauteous Venus in your 10th House of Drive. Consider contacting a decision maker about an upcoming opportunity, be it a professional conference or something more personal. When making presentations (or merely speaking in front of more than two people), keep your statements simple and your tone warm. Keep in mind that correctness is more important than quickness, and empathy builds credibility. Share your idea so cooperation can begin!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Gentle warmth settles into your private plans. Cerebral Mercury and caring Venus are uplifting your 9th House of Travel with their conjunction, so learning and sharing can draw you outward. Consider planning a short trip — in addition to being fun, you may enjoy enlightening conversations and gain a wider perspective from it. Be willing to reanalyze past beliefs, especially if they’re currently feeling a little restrictive. Thoughtful conversation softens defensiveness and grows respect. Open your heart so that wisdom can settle in for good!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

A heartfelt promise becomes wonderfully practical. Your 8th House of Closeness is showered with the affection of Mercury and Venus’s conjunction, increasing your capacity to have deep conversations. If you share expenses with a partner, roommate, or family member, you may need to discuss budget concerns with them. Your generous spirit loves to give, but don’t forget that you deserve to receive as well! Mutual support deepens bonds and makes intimacy safer. Name your needs so trust grows and closeness deepens naturally.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Promises made to loved ones must be kept. A conversation with someone dear may need a little extra diligence, but the rewards should be worth it while Mercury and Venus waltz together within your committed 7th house. Keep an eye out for the details, because over time, they matter just as much as the bigger events in your connection. When something goes wrong, it often affects the small stuff first. Now’s your chance to fix it before it causes any real damage.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Empathy can level out an otherwise bumpy day. Chatty Mercury is dancing with pleasing Venus in your 6th House of Effort, improving the flow of cooperative tasks. If you miss a detail of an assignment, it’s likely that someone else will speak up to help you — and you should do the same. Teamwork saves time and improves morale. For more solo adventures, you can give yourself a boost by beginning a wellness habit, like drinking more water or stretching regularly.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Hop out of bed and start your day with a smile! Your 5th House of Inspiration hosts the loving conjunction of Mercury and Venus, attracting all sorts of visionary energy your way. You could invite someone to a show tonight, because your focus makes others feel seen, and your humor keeps things light. If a younger person needs encouragement, praise their effort — even if the outcome doesn’t match the original plan — to feed their motivation. Play bravely so joy recharges your creative core.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Home could feel clearer after one honest chat. Information-gathering Mercury is in your 4th House of Cornerstones, hugging effervescent Venus, so comfortable conversations brighten any space. You may also find satisfaction in a pantry deep-clean, dusting session, or general meeting with those who share your space. Live alone? Some small changes might lift your spirits. Look to your most recent hobbies for inspiration. A person’s home is their castle, and you deserve to fill yours with things that bring you joy.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

When charm meets clarity, share it boldly. Clear messages matter, as Mercury is in your 3rd House of Communication, conjoining social darling Venus in the same sector. When contacting neighbors or other nearby peers, be sure to state your goals as simply as possible to leave no room for miscommunication. Direct language cuts confusion and protects time. If travel plans or deliveries get tangled, confirm details ASAP, before problems get any bigger. Speak plainly so plans align and momentum returns for everyone.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Security grows as you value your worth. Your 2nd House of Accounting is enthralled by today’s Mercury-Venus conjunction! Venusian shrewdness and Mercurian intelligence are coming together to boost your analytical powers — at least, in regard to your own finances. You may feel ready to review your recent budget, ensuring there aren’t any unexplained charges, or end a few unnecessary subscriptions. Be wary of those pushing for discounts or loans, because they shouldn’t be undervaluing your labor. Choose fair terms to strengthen your financial confidence.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

How kindly can you speak to yourself? Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation. Treat yourself like a friend! It’ll be easier to stand up for your ideas if you like yourself, after all. Others should respond well to your increasing confidence. That said, if their attention feels intense, you’re allowed to step away and follow the beat of your own drum. This moment is yours to do with as you please.