VARSITY GIRLS
The Lady Indians won 58-32 and cruised to the finish despite only two points in the fourth at Lanier Christian in their first game of the new year.
TFS got eight points in the first by Breelyn Wood, and Molly Mitchell connected on a couple of 3-pointers in the second as the Lady Indians pulled away. Wood finished with a team-high 17 points. Haygen James had 13 and Mitchell 12, while Millie Holcomb chipped in with eight, Allie Phasavang six, and Adrijana Albijanic two.
Wood added four blocks and 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Albijanic also posted 10 boards, as did Holcomb. Phasavang also collected five assists.
Tallulah Falls is now 6-5 overall on the season.
VARSITY BOYS
The Indians got the new year rolling with a 60-48 win over Lanier Christian in a Friday road game, ending a 5-game slide in the process.
It was the first victory for TFS since December 8, though the boys have been on the cusp on several occasions as of late. Jay Taylor dropped in a game-high 21 points. Zakhar Valasiuk tied a school record with four charges taken defensively.
Tallulah Falls is now 4-11 overall on the season.
JV
In their first action of 2024, both JV teams came away with road wins against Lanier Christian. Despite the Lady Indians being short-handed, they took a win that featured a special moment within.
The girls won 39-24 despite having just four regular players. Varsity senior team manager Tahj Charlton saw an opportunity and took it. Despite never playing previously, she shined when given the chance.
“We needed a fifth player, and she stepped up for her team to be the fifth,” says coach Jo Kimbrel.
Charlton drained a 3-pointer in the third quarter in what is a moment she’ll never forget. Lia Sanjur had a fantastic performance, scoring 25 points. Gracey Eller added six, Carla Guil three, and Joanna Molodynsky two, along with Charlton’s three.
The JV girls are now 5-1 on the season.
The Indians, meanwhile, came away victorious as well against Lanier Christian. Leading the offense was Tudor Stanimirovic with 19 points, followed by Thomas Bogusevicius with 13, Marquise Rolle and Armando Landecho with nine apiece, and Judah McIntosh with two.
The boys are 5-3 overall.
MS
The MS Indians basketball teams split Friday night at home against Habersham, with the A-Team taking a solid 40-33 win and the B-Team dropping a 53-14 final.
The A-Team took the 7-point win after leading 20-14 at the break. TFS never trailed, and Brantley Addison had a game-high 14 points as part of his sixth double-double on the season. Lincoln Hicks had 13 points and came up with clutch plays in the final two minutes to help secure the win. Asa Popham chipped in with four points, while Ethan Phasavang, Woods Irvin, and Grantley Smith each scored three.
“This was a great TEAM win for the guys,” says coach Nathan Stanley. “I am proud of their hard work, determination, and grit that they showed out on the court tonight. This team feels united and strong going into a big region week next week. Everyone played a huge role in the win, whether on defense or the offensive end. There are still things that we need to iron out in the coming weeks, but this team is moving in the right direction heading into the back end of the season.”
The B-Team lost 53-14, and came out strong after the break, scoring all 14 points in the third quarter. Max Pulliam led with six points, Noah Randall added five, and Hayes Usher had three points.
The A-Team improves its overall record to 7-3 on the season, while the B-Team drops to 0-5.
The MS Lady Indians lost a 33-15 contest to Habersham, while Payton McEntire scored a team-best nine points.
“We had a great second quarter to make us down by one, but after that, we kind of fell apart,” says coach Jenny Long. “But we didn’t quit and we kept on fighting.”
The Lady Indians are now 5-5 on the season.
