Tift County High Legends host first basketball game
Published 1:00 pm Monday, April 7, 2025
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Layton Searcy goes all the way for a White team basket after a steal.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Varsity Blue Devils and Austin Riley get hyped between quarters. Riley had the hot hand early shooting.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Cheerleaders were a big part of the Legends experience.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Gabriel Daniels gets his big chance in the first half.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Javonte Tumbling gets high-fives from the audience after coming up big in the Legends Game.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Legends players and cheerleaders break it down after their game at center court.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Tift County High principal Jennifer Johnson and Tift Schools superintendent Natalie Gore are presented game balls for their work in making the Legends basketball game happen.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Tift County's Legends.
TIFTON — Look out world, the Tift County Legends are taking on and excelling in new sports.
After three years of football success, the Legends branched out into basketball Thursday. With support from varsity Blue Devils at Tift County High, they played an adaptive basketball game Thursday, complete with a halftime show.
Jennifer Johnson, TCHS principal, said it was “amazing” and “a huge honor” to be able to host the basketball game. “These kids worked really, really hard,” she said. “It’s important for us to integrate our special needs students with our general ed population, and it also shows the heart of our children.”
“It’s so special,” said Julie Conner-Johnson, Tift County Lady Devils head coach, who teaches adaptive physical education. “I feel very, very blessed.”
Principal Johnson said Tift students understand the need for inclusivity. In addition, April is Autism Awareness Month.
“This is a great chance to include all of our children,” said Johnson, “and to show athleticism on both sides.”
Varsity Devils coaches may need to start recruiting from the Legends. Austin Riley is the tallest of the group, but showed plenty of range. Riley nailed a three-pointer to give the Grey team an early lead. Evan Ferrari hit several jumpers and Layton Searcy proved to be a lockdown defender. Javonte Tumbling and Samuel Blanco went the extra mile to keep their teams energized.
The game consisted of four six-minute quarters, with a halftime show that not only had the Legends cheerleaders with the varsity cheer squad dancing to 803Fresh’s “Boots on the Ground,” but the players joined them as well.
Blue Devils coaches, including Julie Conner-Johnson and Dallas Neloms, stayed on the floor to keep the game moving. Varsity players provided the rebounding and assists, making sure everyone had a chance to shoot and score.
And the Legends have been working hard to prepare. Ferrari loves basketball so much, he brings his own ball to classes, said Conner-Johnson.
The game has been a work in progress since the Legends football game in September 2024. Tift Schools Superintendent Natalie Gore asked about basketball as a possibility. Six months later, it’s a new Legends tradition. There are thoughts of including other sports in the future.
Like football, the Legends receive all the bells and whistles that go into a regular basketball game — including a literal whistle or two on fouls. They ran out on the floor to music and warmed up. Ken Sasser introduced each player and cheerleader before the National Anthem played.
Fans in the stands cheered every basket and big play with Sasser announcing who scored each one.
After the game, players shook hands and joined at center court for a celebration that the varsity teams normally do for victories. Everyone came together for the team picture. Game balls were presented to Jennifer Johnson and Gore for their support in making the game possible.
