TIFTON —
There is no rest for weary Tift County High School sports fans.
Just a day after the 2012 football season ends, the 2012-13 basketball season begins.
The Tift County Lady Devils and Blue Devils will take to the basketball court tonight for a preseason scrimmage against the visiting Monroe High Lady Tornadoes and Tornadoes.
It will be the first time this season Tift fans can see transfer Brannen Greene in a Blue Devil uniform. The 6-foot-7 Greene transferred in for his senior season from Mary Persons High School. At Mary Persons last season, Greene was The Macon Telegraph’s All Middle Georgia Player of the Year.
Set to sign soon with the Kansas University Jayhawks, Greene will join a talented nucleus led by junior Tadric Jackson and senior Donnel Tuff. Jackson is ranked as one of the top juniors in the nation by several scouting services, while Tuff has drawn interest from several mid-level Division I universities.
“Practice has been going pretty good,” said Devil Head Coach Dr. Eric Holland. “I can’t complain.”
However, Holland added his team is ready to play someone besides themselves, “We are just ready to play — period.”
Greene has fit right in, Holland said.
“He is a great kid, with great manners. He has been good for our program,” said Holland.
Jackson and Tuff chose to devote their time exclusively to basketball, after also being on the football field. The time away from competition has gotten the duo antsy, Holland feels.
“They are both anxiously awaiting to play again,” said Holland of Jackson and Tuff.
Three football players that did stay on the gridiron, Austin McCant, Gerald Pledger and Steven Waters, will go off the football field last night to the basketball court tonight.
“We want to see how they fare,” said Holland. “We are going to need them to add some necessary toughness for us.”
Monroe will also feature one of the nation’s top players in 6-foot-7 Jabari McGhee, who is also being recruited by several mid-major unversities.
“He killed us last year in the scrimmage, and I am really excited to see him and Brannen go head-to-head,” said Holland.
Coach Julie Conner’s Lady Devils are also expecting to have a big season, as well. Fans are urged to arrive early to see the Lady Devils in action.
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Devils, Lady Devils face Monroe tonight
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