Crawford County eyeing first boys hoops title since 1982

ROBERTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Crawford County boys basketball team hasn’t won a state title since 1982, the same year Michael Jackson released the album Thriller.

Hundreds of players have worn the purple, gold and white in that 33-year span. One face who hasn’t changed is the head coach.

Clyde Zachery took over the boys team in 1980. He led the school to its second state title in 1981 and a third in 1982, but his teams have come up empty-handed since.

This year’s squad could end the drought by beating Seminole County in Friday’s GHSA AA championship game.

“They have a tendency to care for each other a little bit more than maybe some of the teams in the past,” Zachery says. “We had great teams in the past and they had good chemistry and all that, but these guys practically live with each other. They play as a team. They’re like brothers off the court, so that helps.”

The Eagles enter the state title game 27-3, the same record held by their opponent. Both teams went undefeated in region play.

“I don’t worry about the other team,” Zachery says. “We just do what we do.”

That would be playing the game at a fast pace, using plenty of motion and passing the ball when opponents least expect it. It helps to have 6’4″ junior William Jarrell down low.

“We’d like for Willie Jarrell to definitely have the ball if we’re down by one, but I still trust anyone with it,” Zachery says.

As practice wrapped up Wednesday, parents sorted stacks of T-shirts to be worn by fans during Friday’s game. They’re gold, with purple and white letters across the chest that read “Eagle Nation. Fired up CC!”

“I tell [the players] a man’s supposed to be self-motivated, but we’ve got some great fans and they have really supported us and these young guys need that support.”

Tipoff between the Eagles and Indians is scheduled for 4:45 Friday at the Macon Centreplex.