TIFTON — They’ve got spirit, yes they do.
A big get-together took place Saturday morning, Jan. 13, at the Tift County High gymnasium. It was Tift’s second annual Winter Homecoming. Middle and high school basketball players and cheerleaders, plus a select group of alumni got together for a morning of fun hours before Tift hosted Lee County in basketball.
Guest speakers included Dr. Tonja Tift, Northeast Middle principal Jennifer Johnson, and former Blue Devil and college coach Travis Williams appeared on video from Phoenix, Arizona, where he is busy helping plan the annual HBCU All-Star game.
Johnson said everyone needs to be committed. She talked about TeShawn Bryant’s game-winning basket over Northside High the night before. Williams reminded Tift County how much he loved them. Both he and Johnson quoted the late Anthony Bateman, advising players to be aware of the legacy they are leaving.
Each cheer and basketball squad were introduced, along with their head coaches.
Winter Homecoming had competition for a spirit stick. Current Tift students and alumni danced together on the gym floor to a variety of songs from different eras. Past players took part in a coed alumni basketball game. Current Lady Devils players donned cheer skirts, boosted on the sidelines by Bryant and Corey Howard, who sported pom-poms.