Varsity Girls
Tallulah Falls must find its identity quickly in 2023-24. After seeing the best player in school history move on to the D-I level in Denika Lightbourne, that means the Lady Indians are forced to replace a huge chunk of their offensive output. Lightbourne scored a school record 598 points (23.9 per game) last year and had 1,569 career points and 652 rebounds.
Lightbourne leaves behind big shoes to fill, but the strength will be in experience. That starts with returning starters Breelyn Wood, Molly Mitchell, Allie Phasavang, and Haygen James. That quartet will get more opportunities to showcase their talents this winter, along with newly-named starter Millie Holcomb. Mitchell and Phasavang are joined by Adrijana Albijanic as the seniors. Albijanic will have a chance to have a breakout year. Wood and James have a good amount of varsity starting experience, and Holcomb is another key junior on the roster.
The roster is rounded out with freshmen LB Kafsky, Gracey Eller, and Joanna Molodynska, all of whom will play some on JV as well.
Overall, the Lady Indians were state-ranked last season with an extremely difficult schedule and yet found a path to the state tournament for the fifth straight season. The offense will be patient and look for good scoring opportunities.
“We have experience, and we will play hard every play,” says coach Lowell Hamilton.
TFS will open the season in a non-counting scrimmage at rivals Rabun Gap on November 7, while officially tipping off the season with a home game on November 10 against Lanier Christian Academy.
Varsity Boys
The Indians turn the page from an era without their consistent star Anfernee Hanna, who is now off playing college hoops. He is the winningest player in program history and third all-time leading scorer. With him and several other seniors off the roster, this TFS team will be young and likely will improve as the season progresses.
The lone returning starter is senior Zakhar Valasiuk. Other standout players expected to have a big role include Neyo Bain, Hayden Bootle, Jay Taylor, Sam Ketch, Brian Neely, and Stevan Gabric.
Hanna and fellow grad Vlad Popescu were good for nearly 850 total points, so that production will come in aggregate from the entire roster.
The offense will continue to run up-tempo and rely on their speed to produce scoring opportunities.
TFS went 17-10 last season, finishing 3rd in the region and making state for the fourth straight season. Coach Cody Coleman looks to get the Indians back for a fifth straight time, as he returns with a 65-35 career record since the 2019-20 season. He is four wins shy of tying the program record for wins.
“Our goal is to continue to compete and build as a program,” adds Coleman.
The Indians open with a non-counting scrimmage on November 7 at Rabun Gap before officially tipping off the season with a home game against Lanier Christian Academy on November 10. The schedule includes an East Jackson Tournament around Thanksgiving and 11 home games.
Valasiuk, Ketch, and Gabric are the seniors on the team. Taylor and Bootle are juniors. Sophomores Bain, De’veon Allen, Marquis Rolle, and Bryson Perdue, along with freshmen Neely and Todor Stanimirovic round out the roster.
