TIFTON —
The inquiry of possible recruiting by the Tift County High varsity boys basketball program is still ongoing, Georgia High School Association Executive Director Dr. Ralph Swearingen told The Gazette Wednesday.
A complaint filed by the Turner County School System is what started the probe. One of the players in question is a varsity athlete, while the other is in middle school.
Swearingen sent an investigator to Tift and Turner counties to look into the allegations.
“I am expecting a response from the investigator today or tomorrow,” Swearingen said Wednesday. “We are still working on the process.”
Swearingen will study that report and if he believes there are possible rules violations, he would give Tift County a chance to address the allegations.
The matter has been in the back of the minds of Tift County fans, especially with the success the team is having this season. After a 60-54 loss to the seventh-ranked team in the nation, St. Anthony (N.J.) Monday, the Tift County Blue Devils are currently 14-4 on the year.
“I know people are interested in this, especially with the success the Tift team is having this year. But, we do not rush these matters,” said Swearingen.
Tift County Superintendent Patrick Atwater said Wednesday that every player that has been on the Blue Devil roster this year has been eligible, according to the GHSA itself.
“We have got GHSA Certificates of Eligibility for every player on the roster,” said Atwater.
He reiterated what he has said earlier in the matter, which has been ongoing since October 2012.
“From what our coaches and athletic director (Rusty Smith) have told me I feel none of the Turner County concerns will be validated,” said Atwater.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
tift county basketball logo
Swearingen says Tift inquiry ongoing
- Local Sports
-
-
Greene named Parade All-America
-
Spring game goes well for Devils
The blue squad was the victors 17-10 over the white team Friday in the annual Tift County Blue Devils spring game. The contest was the first preview of the 2013 team, which opens the regular season on Friday, August 30, with a home game against the Westover Patriots.
-
Lady Devils golfers finish 7th
- Baseball camp at Devil Diamond
-
ABAC tennis finishes 9th in nation
The ABAC Stallions are returning from Dallas, Texas as the nation’s ninth best tennis team in the NJCAA tournament. In addition to the national honors, one singles player and one doubles team advanced to the semifinals in their brackets. First place went to Tyler (Texas) Junior College, who totaled 47 points. ABAC had 24.5.
-
Summer tennis camp at ABAC June 24-27
Middle school and high school tennis players who want to improve all phases of their game should sign up for the summer tennis camp June 24-27 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
-
Tattnall Square tops Tiftarea, 6-2
Ernie Banks used to say, "let's play two." In a game that was as long as two and was defined early on by errors and later by a pitching duel, it would be offense that propelled the Tattnall Square Trojans past the Tiftarea Academy Panthers, 6-2 in 14 innings. Tattnall, who won the first game of the series, 4-1 before dropping game two, 6-3, will meet Mount de Sales in the Class AAA semifinals next week.
-
Loop the Lake coming June 1
The 2013 Lake Blackshear Loop the Lake 5K Run, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk and Stroller Roll benefiting GraceWay Recovery Residence will be held on Saturday, June 1 at the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club.
-
Tiftarea-Tattnall split
The quarterfinals series between the Tiftarea Academy Panthers and defending state Class AAA champions Tattnall Square Trojans matched up two of the top teams in the state and after two games, the battle has been a stalemate. The Trojans won the first game 4-1, while the Panthers took game two, 6-3. Game three will be today at 2 p.m.
-
Tiftarea hosts defending state champs
Coach Brad Porter and the Tiftarea Academy Panthers have been taking the road to the GISA state Class AAA championship one obstacle at a time. As Region 3's No. 1 seed they are entitled to host the quarterfinals round, which starts at 4 p.m. today in Chula. However, their obstacle is a big one: the defending state champions, the Tattnall Square Trojans.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
