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Season Recap: MS Boys Basketball

For the second time in a three-year span, the Indians MS basketball team earned a Tri-State Conference Championship. The Indians, playing for the third straight season in the title game, avenged last year's heartbreaking loss with a win at Towns County. Same two teams, same court, different result.

It capped a fantastic season for TFS, as the Indians under first-year head coach Nathan Stanley marched through the schedule with a 10-3 overall record. Early on, the dominance of the team was on display when the 2022 portion of the season saw the Indians go 5-0.

It wasn't until a road game at Towns County that the boys would have their first slip-up. That came on January 5 out of the break, and evened the regular season series between the two teams. The rest of the way, the Indians went 5-2, with the pair of losses coming in split-squad non-conference games against Habersham County.

Brian Neely was the team's leading scorer throughout, and Asa Popham picked up right where he left off last season as a go-to option. He led the team in scoring in three straight games heading into the tournament. Once getting into the playoffs, TFS as the two-seed earned a first round bye. In the semifinal round, the Indians downed Highlands at home to set up the anticipated rematch with Towns.

The third time was a charm. After both teams earned home wins against the other this year, the finals would be held in Hiawassee. It marked the same place and setup as last season, where TFS saw a late lead vanish in the title game loss. This time, a huge second half propelled the Indians to the championship.

Other players who were regularly leading the charge include Ethan Phasavang, Derrick Lane, Brantley Addison, Lincoln Hicks, Isaac Farris, William NeSmith, Jack Greene, and others. Lane, Neely, and NeSmith are three starters who will move into high school next season. But with the return of so many playmakers, it wouldn't be a suprise to once again see TFS in the same position in 2024.

B-TEAM

The boys B-Team only got a chance to play four games this season, but it was an opportunity for many players to get their first reps at the middle school level. Players such as Woods Irvin, Ryder Cantrell, Grant Smith, Joshua Newell, and others all fine-tuned their skills as the B-Team Indians went 0-4 on the short season.