Region tournament starts for Tift County

Published 11:00 am Thursday, February 16, 2023

TIFTON — The semifinals of the Region 1-6A basketball tournaments begin Thursday, Feb. 16, with Tift County’s Blue Devils and Lady Devils springing into action at Lee County High. The Lady Devils are to play Thomas County Central at 4 p.m. and the Devils follow at 5:30 against Veterans.

Tift’s opponents were determined Feb. 14 in the first round of the tournament. Veterans’ boys defeated Northside of Warner Robins, 72-58. TCC’s girls blasted Northside, 71-38.

Regardless of result Thursday, everyone in the tournament will play Friday as well, either in the championship or consolation games. By earning No. 2 seeds during the regular season, Tift has already guaranteed itself of playing in the Class 6A state tournament. Wins Thursday would guarantee first round home games.

The opponent does not matter to the Blue Devils. Head coach Tommy Blackshear had one goal in mind last week. “I want to get to the finals,” he said. “Whether it’s Lee or whomever, I want to get to the finals. That’s our main objectives.”

The Blue Devils went 8-2 in region games in 2022-23 and are 19-5 overall. Tift averages 54 points per game on offense and Blackshear’s always tough defense is surrendering a mere 41 per contest. Nine opponents have been held to 34 points or fewer in games this year. This includes No. 1 seed Lee County and Valdosta, seeded No. 1 in the Region 1-7A tournament.

On offense, Will Clark’s 204 points are most on a very balanced offense that sees seven players average between 5-9 points game: Clark, Kobe Farrie, Tyler Parker, Davis Byrnes, Christian Jones, Henry Gebhart and McKyler Horne. An eighth, Ty’Quan Mills, is right behind them at 4 points per outing.

“We’re fair on offenses,” Blackshear concedes, “but we’re bulldog-tough on defense. That’s what we hang our hat on.”

Julie Conner’s Lady Devils come in with 20 wins in the regular season. Nineteen were won on the court, with the squad treating Colquitt County’s decision not to play them as a forfeit.

Tift is outscoring opponents 56-37 in competitive contests and carry a 12-game winning streak into the tournament. The only 1-6A team to defeat them has been Veterans in the January opener.

Leading the way on offense has been Jimmya Cushion, at 353 points, 15 per game. Only a sophomore, Cushion is already halfway to 1,000 points at 497. O’ashia Cushion averages 11 points per game.

Jakembre Beckhom, Jimelyah Cushion, Faith Hillmon and Jalaya Miller all average at least 4 points per game to round out the offense. Defensively, if Tift’s press has not been enough to shake opponents, the Lady Devils provide a tough inside combo with Hillmon, Beckhom and Janie Ragsdale.

Region 1 will play Region 2 in the first round of state. The girls semifinals see Brunswick play Glynn Academy and South Effingham take on Grovetown.

Brunswick is the top seed. For boys, it is Grovetown against Evans and Brunswick playing Lakeside (Evans). Grovetown, the No. 1 seed, is the defending state champion.

First round games will be Feb. 21 and/or Feb. 22.

Tift County’s boys have the longest active state tournament streak of any GHSA school.

The streak, which began under Blackshear’s first tenure in 1994, has included three state championships, once as runners-up and four other semifinals appearances.