By Michael Butler

Last year’s Tallassee varsity girls basketball team went 16-11, the best record this millenium. It was Coach Alfonzo Johnson’s first season.

Prior to Johnson taking over, the Tigers collected just 17 wins total in the previous five seasons. Only one senior was on last year’s squad, so expectations are to keep on winning with 13 returning players.

“We reloaded with an new sense of energy and confidence now,” said Johnson. “The mentality is different. Prior to last year, we felt that getting wins were important. Now we’re talking about playoffs.”

Tallassee missed the post-season last year and have not won an area championship since the 2000-01 season.

The five-team area includes; Booker T. Washington, Catholic, LAMP and Trinity.

“It’s a tough area,” Johnson noted. “Trinity won 3A back-to-back. Montgomery Catholic has two players who will probably be Division-I basketball players. BTW is athletic. LAMP is well coached.”

The team is still young. Jhakhia Anderson and Destinee Daniels are the only seniors. Anderson led the team in scoring last year with nine points per game.

“Jhakhia has been on varsity since her eighth-grade year. She’s been through the growing pains. She’s the one that wants it.”

Emphasis has been on getting work in during the off-season. The girls have bought in working out in the open gym on Sundays.

“The girls were tired of losing. They want to see how good they can be. They’re all in. I think we’re a playoff team. I believe we can make a run in a couple of years, not saying we couldn’t do it this year.”

Schedule/Results