Column: The night Palatka’s boys basketball team shut down a program for good

  • Palatka boys basketball coach Bryant Oxendine hugs assistant coach Anthony Royster (right), while receiving a pat on the back of congratulations from Palatka High athletic director Bobby Humphries after the Panthers defeated New Port Richey Ridgewood, 64-51, in Ridgewood’s last game as a program on its home court on March 2, 2018. (MARK BLUMENTHAL / Palatka Daily News)
    Palatka boys basketball coach Bryant Oxendine hugs assistant coach Anthony Royster (right), while receiving a pat on the back of congratulations from Palatka High athletic director Bobby Humphries after the Panthers defeated New Port Richey Ridgewood, 64-51, in Ridgewood’s last game as a program on its home court on March 2, 2018. (MARK BLUMENTHAL / Palatka Daily News)
  • New Port Richey Ridgewood High boys basketball coach Derek Delgado holds back tears as he answers questions from the media after his team’s 64-51 Region 2-6A final loss to Palatka in the program’s last game on March 2, 2018. (MARK BLUMENTHAL / Palatka Daily News)
    New Port Richey Ridgewood High boys basketball coach Derek Delgado holds back tears as he answers questions from the media after his team’s 64-51 Region 2-6A final loss to Palatka in the program’s last game on March 2, 2018. (MARK BLUMENTHAL / Palatka Daily News)
(Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part column spotlighting sports editor Mark  Blumenthal’s 20 years at the Daily News, which started Aug. 7, 2003. This part features a special night in…

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