Raiders Secure Seventh Consecutive Conference Championship Following Win Over #1 Chipola Saturday

MARIANNA, Fla. — Death, taxes, and the Raiders winning the Panhandle Conference—some things just seem inevitable. For Bart Walker and his Northwest Florida State squad, claiming conference titles has become almost second nature. On Saturday night, the Raiders traveled to Marianna to face the No. 1-ranked Chipola Indians and delivered a dominant 80-69 victory to secure yet another Panhandle Conference Championship.

With a win guaranteeing at least a share of the conference title and likely the No. 1 seed in this year's FCSAA State Tournament, both teams entered the matchup with high stakes. The Raiders and Indians have not only been the top two teams in Florida this season but also among the best in the nation. Northwest Florida aimed to extend its conference title streak to seven consecutive championships, while Chipola sought its first Panhandle crown since winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.

The Raiders wasted no time seizing control, coming out of the gates on fire with four consecutive scoring possessions. Meanwhile, their stifling defense held the Indians to just one point—a single free throw—before forcing an early timeout with an 8-1 lead. Northwest Florida's momentum only grew as the first quarter progressed, pressuring Chipola into difficult shots and turnovers while capitalizing on fast-break opportunities. By the end of the opening period, the Raiders had built a commanding 25-12 advantage.

Chipola responded in the second quarter with an 8-0 run, quickly trimming the deficit to just five with a little over six minutes remaining in the half. However, Northwest Florida remained poised, countering with a 17-8 surge to close the quarter and head into halftime leading 42-28.

The third quarter saw both teams exchanging baskets as the Raiders maintained their 16-point cushion with under five minutes left in the period. The back-and-forth battle continued, with each team putting up 19 points in the quarter, keeping Northwest Florida ahead 61-47 heading into the final stretch.

In the fourth, the Raiders extended their lead to as much as 16 points and looked to close things out by maintaining defensive intensity and limiting turnovers. However, Chipola had other plans, cutting the deficit back to single digits by drawing fouls, getting to the free-throw line, and capitalizing on Raider mistakes. Despite the late surge, Northwest Florida held firm, regaining control and restoring their double-digit lead in the closing minutes.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Raiders stood victorious, taking down their biggest rival and once again cementing their place atop the Panhandle Conference with an 80-69 triumph.

The Raiders' victory secured their seventh consecutive Panhandle Conference title and the 12th in program history. With the win, Northwest Florida State is poised to earn the No. 1 seed in the FCSAA State Tournament, as the women's field is nearly set. Pensacola is expected to claim the eighth and final tournament spot.

Chipola still has an outside shot at sharing the conference championship but would need a win over Tallahassee on Monday and a Raiders loss to Gulf Coast that same night. Regardless, the Indians are likely to be named the No. 2 seed in the tournament, having maintained a top-two ranking in the FCSAA standings for most of the season.

Postgame Notes

• Nevaeh Scott delivered one of her most complete performances of the season, leading the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while also tallying two steals on the defensive end.
• Mekhia Chase (13), Deborah Davenport (12), and Kyla McBride (11) all contributed double-digit scoring efforts to support the Raiders' offensive attack.
• For just the fourth time this season, the Raiders eclipsed the 80-point mark, fueled by an efficient shooting performance—knocking down 53.6% (30-56) from the field and 50.0% (6-12) from beyond the arc.
• The Raiders remain unbeaten (14-0) this season when scoring more than 70 points in a game.
• The win marks Northwest Florida State's eighth victory over an NJCAA top-25 opponent this season, including their sixth over a team currently ranked inside the top 15. Their résumé features wins over No. 1 Chipola, No. 10 Gulf Coast, and No. 13 Florida Southwestern.
• The Raiders have recorded 32 rebounds (10 offensive, 22 defensive) in consecutive games.

Up Next

The Raiders return to action on Monday, March 3, at 5:15 p.m. for a make-up game against No. 10 Gulf Coast. Originally postponed in January due to a snowstorm, this matchup will serve as the final regular-season home game before the state tournament, making it a special night for the program.

The Raiders will celebrate Sophomore Night, honoring seven players: Allyson Ferguson, Nevaeh Scott, Mekhia Chase, Kyla McBride, Sydney Bradley, Jade Ondineme, and Deborah Davenport.

Additionally, it's Chick-fil-A Night at the Arena, with Niceville CFA handing out free sandwich coupons and giving one lucky fan free Chick-fil-A for a year during halftime of the men's game.