Chris Whitaker
AMERICUS — The 8-and-under and 10-under Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department basketball teams reached the semifinals this weekend at the state GRPA Tournament before falling.
The 10-and-under group won its second district championship in a row to advance to the state in Carrollton. It beat Habersham County 61-45 in the quarterfinals on Friday before falling 60-53 to Villa Ricca in the Final Four.
The 8-and-under team traveled to Chatsworth and beat the defending state champion Calhoun 28-13 before falling to host Murray County 23-15 on Saturday.
“We thought both teams had a good shot of winning going in,” said SCPRD athletics director Darius Harris. “Both teams had an awesome year. It’s not an easy accomplishment. Some people may think it’s just rec ball and think it’s easy to win. You’re competing against folks from all over the state of Georgia, and it’s equal to winning a high school state championship. The folks that have won it, earned it.”
Harris said the 8-and-under team never got in sync playing in a bigger spotlight. The team also reached the semis in football.
“This was their first time away from home playing,” he said. “Murray County had a really good team and matched up well against us. We played on their home floor, and I think they had the homecourt advantage on us.”
The 10-and-under team won the state championship in football, and Harris said winning consecutive district championships is a testament to its athletic ability.
“For their group to go back and make the Final Four says a lot about that group of kids we’ve got,” he said. “We’re very pleased with both teams finishing in the top in their prospective age groups.”
