Tift County boys carry flag of South Georgia into AAAAAA final

Tift County has some history of its own. The Blue Devils won the Class AAAA title in 1996 under Tommy Blackshear and was runner-up to Wheeler in 2004 under Robert Moore. They made the semifinals again in 2007 under Johnny Spurlin.

Holland took over in 2010 and got the team to the semifinals in 2011. But last year was disheartening. Tift was ranked No. 1 and had the state’s most highly recruited player, Kansas freshman Brannen Greene, but lost  at home in the quarterfinals to North Cobb, losing a  lead late.

Some thought if a South Georgia team couldn’t win the title with Greene and Georgia Tech-signee Tadric Jackson, who is back for his senior season, that maybe it couldn’t be done. But Tift is back, and Holland thinks the program can remain in contention for years  if the school and community continue to make basketball a priority.

‘’I think that you get what you emphasize,’’ Holland said. “If South Georgia emphasizes their basketball programs and puts more resources into it, letting their teams travel up to Atlanta, you’ll see the tide turn a little bit.’’

Tift County played Class AAA finalist Buford this season. Tift has played North Gwinnett and Whitefield Academy and other top metro Atlanta programs since Holland came.

‘’My biggest thing is play them,’’ Holland said. “Play them before the region schedule, in tournaments, during the summer. Go watch them play. Go to camps with them. They are the cream of the crop. Until South Georgia teams take on that challenge, we are going to struggle to beat those teams year in, year out.’’

Tift County also has played out of state the past few years against nationally known programs such as St. Anthony’s of New Jersey and Montverde Academy of Florida. Holland calls Tift County ‘’blessed’’ to be given those opportunities. He said many South Georgia programs aren’t able to do it, or choose against it.

‘’We compete against that monster called football,’’ Holland said. “When you think of South Georgia, you think of football, just like when you think of the University of Georgia, you think football, even though Mark Fox has done a great job. What we’ve done at Tift County is change that mindset. If you play basketball, you’re going to play the best teams. That’s how we deal with it.’’

But metro Atlanta has other advantages, in particular a higher concentration of talented players. Top players in metro Atlanta are more likely to transfer to state-contending basketball programs, and that has fueled many if most state champions in the highest class since around 2000.

Tift County has benefited lately from that trend, as well. Greene came from Mary Persons, and one starter this season transferred two years ago from Turner County. Even star guard Jackson grew up in Turner County, though he’s been with Tift County since he was a freshman.

But South Georgia's players don't have as many opportunities to find elite year-round teams without significant travel.  Holland notes that three of his players – Jackson, his younger brother Tyrie Jackson and Preston Horne – play AAU ball for Atlanta-based teams. One of Tifton’s best players, Georgia Tech sophomore Chris Bolden, moved to Atlanta several years ago and played at Norcross and North Gwinnett.

‘’In South Georgia, not all kids have the luxury to play with the Southern Kings or the Atlanta Celtics,’’ Holland said. “When Chris Bolden left, he was working out with former NBA players and getting more exposure up there. In South Georgia, we’ve got one park and one gym.’’

But Holland believes that might be enough this season. Wheeler is ranked No. 1 and favored, but Tift is 29-3 and playing well.

‘’Wheeler has tradition and five (state-championship) rings to prove it,’’ Holland said. “But we feel good about where we are. We like our game plan, and we really like our chances.’’