Preps Storylines: 1 area coach nears a landmark win, potential severe weather impacts area

School is back in session in the Big Bend and area athletes are ready to ring in the New Year as preps action heats up.

From the fields to the courts, area programs are set for a packed week of action.

Clashes between Big Bend powerhouses, a potential 500-win coach and some early January severe weather are in store for us this week, so let's dive into the storylines to watch.

Potential severe weather impact's the Big Bend preps schedule

With severe weather sweeping into the Big Bend, there are scheduling impacts for area programs as high wind gusts and rain are expected in the early portion of the week.

As of Monday afternoon, Leon County Schools is closing schools on Tuesday, and all sporting events will be either canceled or postponed depending on rescheduling ability. All games scheduled for Monday night will be played as normal, with the only current impact coming on Tuesday.

Leon County Schools said it will assess the storm's impacts before making an announcement on school opening Wednesday, leaving the preps schedule in flux.

There were 23 games between boys and girls basketball and soccer scheduled for Tuesday night, and the games will be either rescheduled for a later date or canceled, depending on school availabilities.

The Tallahassee Democrat will have updates to school closures, schedule impacts and more as they are available.

Hoops heats up, one coach nears 500 wins

Basketball is one of the Big Bend's staples, and this year's hoops season has been filled with excitement.

From the success of young rosters like Godby's girls' team (10-4) or area powers like Rickards (boys and girls 10-4) and Lincoln (11-2 boys, 10-3 girls) dominating on both the boys and girl's front, there are plenty of storylines in the area.

One storyline to keep an eye on this week is Lincoln boy's basketball coach Andrew Colville's chase for his 500th win. Sitting at 498 wins, the Trojans play three games this week and the potential 500th win could come against a familiar foe.

The legendary area coach led Godby to it's first state championship in 2015 and he is one of the winningest coaches in the state of Florida. If Lincoln loses one of it's first two games of the week, vs. Wakulla on Tuesday or vs. St. John Paul II on Thursday, the landmark win could come against the Cougars on Friday.

With a potential storybook victory this week, there will be plenty to follow when it comes to the Trojans.

Area soccer powers go head-to-head

It has been an exciting year on the pitches across the area, and this week a couple of Big Bend powers face off in a thrilling week of area soccer.

If the weather allows it, Tuesday is going to be a blockbuster night of soccer action. On the boys side, Chiles (7-3-1) faces Leon (9-6). The second time these two programs have played this season, the Timberwolves won the first meeting 3-0 in November. The Lions have been surging and this could be a much closer game this time around.

On the girl's front, a Monday night matchup between Wakulla (7-1) and Florida High (8-3) kickoff a big week of action. The Seminoles have one of the youngest rosters in the state and are competing at a high level, and the War Eagles are rolling with a balanced roster, making this an exciting matchup between the two programs.

A powerhouse matchup between Chiles (9-1-1) and Lincoln (8-3-1) highlights Tuesday night. The Trojans are the only team to take down the Timberwolves this season, winning 2-1 in December. In what promises to be another close matchup, this is a must-watch game between two of the area's top programs, the only thing that could slow it down is the possible weather.

This week's preps schedule

Monday

Boy's Basketball: Community Christian vs. Wakulla Christian 6:30 p.m.; Jefferson County vs. Lafayette 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Wewahitchka vs. Wakulla 4 p.m.; Gadsden County vs. North Florida Christian 6 p.m.; Lincoln vs. Madison County 6 p.m.

Boy's soccer: Lincoln vs. Wakulla 7 p.m.; JPII vs. Lafayette 7 p.m.; Jefferson County vs. Franklin County 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: JPII vs. Lafayette 5 p.m.; Munroe vs. Suwannee 5:30 p.m.; Jefferson County vs. Franklin County 6 p.m.

Tuesday: ALL GAMES POSTPONED/CANCELLED DUE TO SCHOOL CLOSURES

Boy's Basketball: Wakulla Christain vs. Wewahitchka 6 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Leon 7 p.m.; Godby vs. Florida High 7 p.m., Wakulla vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Rickards vs. Chiles 7:30 p.m.; Branford vs. Aucilla Christan 7:30 p.m.; JPII vs. Munroe 7:30 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. Gadsden County 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Altha vs. JPII 5 p.m.; Hamilton County vs. Jefferson County 6 p.m.; Godby vs. Wakulla 6 p.m.; Branford vs. Aucilla Christian 6 p.m.; Florida High vs. Rickards 7:30 p.m.

Boy's soccer: Gadsden County vs. Godby 7 p.m.; Rickards vs. Jefferson County 7 p.m.; Munroe vs. Franklin County 7 p.m.; Chiles vs. Leon 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: Gadsden County vs. Godby 5 p.m.; Hamilton County vs. Taylor County 5 p.m.; Munroe vs. Franklin County 5 p.m.; Chiles vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Leon vs. Florida High 7 p.m.; Wakulla vs. Port St. Joe 8 p.m.

Wednesday

Boy's Basketball: Madison County vs. Jefferson County 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Gadsden County vs. Godby 6 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Leon vs. Chiles 7:30 p.m.

Boy's soccer: JPII vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Community Christan vs. Maclay 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: JPII vs. Rickards 5 p.m.

Thursday

Boy's Basketball: Community Christian vs. Wakulla Christian 6:30 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs. Chiles 7:30 p.m.; Lincoln vs. JPII 7 p.m.; North Bay Haven vs. Wakulla 7:30 p.m.; Countryside Christian vs. Aucilla Christian 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Wakulla vs. Taylor County 4:30 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs. FAMU DRS 6 p.m.; Countryside Christan vs. Aucilla Christian 6 p.m.; Altha vs. Maclay 6 p.m.; Columbia vs. Madison County 7 p.m.

Boy's soccer: Community Christan vs. Rickards 7 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Godby 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: Taylor County vs. Godby 5 p.m.; JPII vs. Jefferson County 6 p.m.; Gadsden County vs. Suwannee 6:30 p.m.; Leon vs. Mosely 7 p.m.

Friday

Boy's Basketball: Meadowbrook Academy vs. Aucilla Christian 6 p.m.; Liberty County vs. Community Christian 6 p.m.; Lincoln vs. Godby 7 p.m.; Rickards vs. Blanche Ely 7:30 p.m.; Leon vs. JPII 7:30 p.m.; Gadsden County vs. Crossroad Academy 7:30 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. Wakulla 7:30 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs. Maclay 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Taylor County vs. Aucilla Christian 4:30 p.m.; Wewahitchka vs. JPII 5 p.m.; Godby vs. Rutherford 5 p.m.; Liberty County vs. Community Christian 5 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs. Maclay 5:30 p.m.; Rickards vs. Trinity Catholic 6 p.m.; Lincoln vs. Buchholz 6 p.m.; Munroe vs. Chiles 6:30 p.m.; Andrew Jackson vs. Florida High 6:30 p.m.

Boy's soccer: Munore vs. Community Christian 4 p.m.; Leon vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Maclay vs. Gainsville 7 p.m.; Chiles vs. Florida High 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: Rickards vs. Florida High 5 p.m.; Maclay vs. Gainsville 5 p.m.; St. Johns Country Day vs. Chiles 5 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Munroe 5 p.m.; Wakulla vs. Jefferson County 6 p.m.

Saturday

Boy's Basketball: Riverside vs. Rickards 5 p.m.; Rutherford vs. Leon 5:30 p.m.; Munroe vs. L.E.A.D. Academy 6:30 p.m.; Maclay vs. Chiles 7 p.m.; JPII vs. Walton 7 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. North Bay Haven Academy 7:15 p.m.; Winter Haven vs. Florida High 8 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Leon vs. Columbia 12:30 p.m.; Rickards vs. Gainsville 3 p.m.; Munroe vs. L.E.A.D. Academy 4 p.m.; Maclay vs. Chiles 5 p.m.; Forest vs. Florida High 6:30 p.m.

Boy's soccer: St. Johns Country Day vs. JPII 12 p.m.; Leon vs. Port St. Joe 1 p.m.; Florida High vs. South Walton 3 p.m.; Munroe vs. Hamilton County 4 p.m.; Maclay vs. Williston 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: St. Johns Country Day vs. Lincoln 10 a.m.; Leon vs. Port St. Joe 11 a.m.; Maclay vs. Williston 11 a.m.

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 3 storylines to watch in the Big Bend as winter sports heat up