Late December is a unique time for the high school basketball season. It's when school is out. It's holiday season. It's right before the new year begins. It's time to spend with family.
But it's also a pivotal moment before region play ramps up.
So there's a time of limbo for basketball programs during this point in the season to figure out which - if any - holiday tournaments to choose to participate in. What that program does with this time could very well determine how far it advances come the state playoffs.
Holiday tournaments can help shape a season, so let's take a look at the strategy of the Vidalia Indians, who are the Class AA No. 5-ranked team in the most recent poll.
The Indians (10-0, 5-0 Region 2) chose to play its holiday tournament after Christmas, beginning on Dec. 28 at Dublin. Some programs choose to play in holiday tournaments before Dec. 25.
It's the Indians' first time participating in this particular tournament, which takes place almost an hour away from the Vidalia campus.
Teams signed on to play include teams as far away as Miami, according to Indians coach Tommy Dalley.
"We always look for opportunities to play different teams," Dalley said, referring to the holiday season tournaments. "Playing the same teams won't help you get better.
"The challenge becomes finding out how hard you can push your players on Christmas break - especially the multi-sport athletes. Really, this time of year is to help prepare for the region schedule, so you have to balance trying to get ready for region and the holiday practice schedule. There's a fine line and you have to be conscientious of your process."
Dalley is a veteran when it comes to managing the holiday season process. He's coaching his eighth season with the Indians and they've won region titles the last four seasons.
Dalley's fine line during this time of year isn't necessarily pushing his players to the point of burning out, but instead finding out the best way to make his team work.
"Now is the time to find out the roles your players can excel in," he said. "You can find out now who, down the road, can do what they need to do when it comes to things like ball security; which personnel groups work best together - these are some of the things you look at before region play."
If Dalley can use the Dublin tournament to put together the winning recipe, it will result in a fifth consecutive region title.
This year, Dalley will lean most heavily on his two senior captains, Will Chambliss and Tyrin Page - along with two sophomore scorers, Tahj Jones and LaQuintez Rogers.
"Winning the region gets harder and harder each year," Dalley said. "We know we're getting everyone's best shot, every night. But this group is resilient, and in the back of their minds this team wants to win its own region title."
Credit: Craig Sager
Credit: Craig Sager
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