Region starts for Tift hoops Friday

Jan. 3—TIFTON — The Region 1-6A basketball schedule starts Friday night for Tift County High, with Veterans coming to town at 6 p.m. The weekend continues Saturday with Tift at Thomas County Central, a rare 3 p.m. varsity start time.

Tift got 2024 off to an early start with games against Coffee Tuesday. The Blue Devils entered at 6-4 overall, with the Lady Devils 8-3 after a pair of tough holiday tournaments.

Their first region games are among the toughest for the Lady Devils. "We start off with our two toughest," said head coach Julie Conner-Johnson. Thomas County Central is 11-1. Veterans, 1-6A's champions in 2022-23, were 8-4 heading into a Wednesday game against Warner Robins.

Among Veterans' wins are Central (Macon), Colquitt County and Jones County, reliably among the state's best. They've fallen to other difficult teams in Carver (Columbus) and Baldwin.

Conner-Johnson had a chance recently to scout Thomas County Central in person.

"They looked incredible," she said. The Lady Jackets began 11-0 before falling to Colquitt. TCC has three players averaging in double figures, according to official stats. Travesha Giddens leads the way with 15.6 points per game, with Tia Floyd at 12.9 and Marcy Pearson at 11.8.

Tift is led by its own trio of players: Caitlyn Burgess, Jimmya Cushion and Jalaya Miller. Burgess is at 15.8 points per game, Cushion at 14.6 and Miller at 11.1.

Cushion and Burgess had at least 10 points each in all of the Lady Devils five holiday games. The five, played at Brunswick at Buford, saw enough close calls for a lifetime. Three were decided by two points or less.

"Tough, tough competition," Conner-Johnson said, adding they learned plenty. "Definitely going to benefit us," she said.

Tift's boys dropped their first holiday game, then won three straight over a pair of tournaments. Their first region opponent, Veterans, is 8-4. They've had their share of close games, six decided by six points or less.

TCC is 5-7. They've had an up-and-down start to the season. Wins have been over Valwood, Brooks County (2), North Florida Christian and Sunlake, Fla.

Blue Devils head Tommy Blackshear has guided a very inexperienced group to six victories, despite having only one player back with much playing time at all. That player, McKyler Horne, is still getting himself into game shape after missing the first month with an injury.

The good news is that Horne is averaging 10.5 points per game in his first two outings and brings a stability in all phases of the game. Horne can defend, rebound, bring the ball up the floor and score. His steal against Irwin County helped seal that victory.

Other than Horne's two games, no Devil is even averaging eight points per game in a very balanced offense. TeShawn Bryant is at 7.8 with Corey Howard at 7.0. three others are over five: J.J. Lamar (5.8), Kaden Lawson (5.8) and Fred White (5.3).

Blackshear said White has worked hard to be in his role of starting point guard. Though not one of the top scorers, Blackshear has heaped praise on the defensive abilities of Jaden Nelson, who has also worked his way into the starting lineup.