News & Announcements
Season Preview: MS Basketball
The MS basketball teams are nearing the opening tip for the 2023-24 season. Both the girls and boys feature rosters with several returning key players.
The Indians are coming off a Tri-State Championship and a 10-3 record under coach Nathan Stanley. The boys return one of the team’s top scorers in eighth-grader Asa Popham, and fellow classmate Brantley Addison and seventh-grader Grantley Smith are back as well.
The roster for the A-Team contains several eighth-graders with lots of experience, including Popham, Addison, Lincoln Hicks, Ethan Phasavang, and Jackson Crumley. The seventh-graders on the A-Team include Smith, Woods Irvin, and Emmanuel Heyl. Noah Randall and West Ridlehoover are sixth-graders who will get time as well.
"No one man is bigger than the team,” says Stanley. “We are creating a Brotherhood/Family mentality within our middle school basketball program. Brothers may fight, but they always know they have each other’s back and are pushing the other to be the best version of himself every day."
The B-Team, which played only four games last season, is young with six sixth-graders, five seventh-graders, and three eighth-graders.
“We feel pretty good about this season,” adds Stanley. “Coming off a championship the previous season brings excitement to the program. We have some young players moving into the rotation on the A-Team this season who will have opportunities to impact the team right now. It is a great time to be a part of Tallulah Falls basketball. We look forward to competing for a chance at the championship again. The B-Team is looking stronger this year with more developed leaders after spending a year with the team already.”
The Lady Indians are under the direction of Jenny Long, who takes over a team that went 7-7 and advanced to the semifinals of the Tri-State tournament. That came with three wins over rivals Rabun Gap.
Only three players off last year’s team moved to the high school level, and talented players such as Nora Mitchell, Handley James, Linda White, and Payton McEntire are all back as featured players from last season.
Despite the returning talent, it’s still a fairly young group comprised of three eighth graders – Sofia Alderfer, McEntire, and White; five seventh graders – McKenzie McCoy, Emily Savage, Mitchell, Mia Kerr, and James. The roster includes four sixth graders in Elizabeth Hilson, Kristine Malik, Kourtney Hunter, and Lily Denard.
“I'm really excited about the upcoming basketball season,” says Long. “We've got a great group of young ladies that aren't afraid to work hard and be physical. They are very coachable and really enjoy playing with each other. I love the effort and enthusiasm they bring each and every day to practice. I think they are going to be a lot of fun to watch and I can't wait to see how much growth this team experiences over the course of the season.”
The Indians (both A- and B-Team) and Lady Indians open the schedule on November 7 at home against Stephens County.