The story of Basketball in Hahira
                                                                By Peggy Griffin

Thanks for inviting me to help in dedication of this beautiful new gym. This was a dream I had for several years. Ann, I'm so happy for you and your coaches and P.E. Department and most of all for the young people who have this beautiful facility to use.

Today we're so caught up in the future and the great possibilities there that we forget to think about our past - our heritage if you please.

Tonight I'd like for you to travel back in time with me. The time is the mid 1880's. Hahira is a very small community. Morven, Cecil, Barney and the Shiloh community are all larger more thriving communities. We were even then a farming community with cotton and watermelons being very good crops.

Then in the latter part of the 1880's something happened that changed all this. News was spread that the railroad was coming through and people began to move into our area. By 1891 Hahira had received its charter and was a growing little town.

By 1922 approximately 750 people lived here. And this is the year that the first high school boy's basketball team was formed. They had no gym or building to play in so they practiced and played on an outside dirt court.

By 1925 we were modern in our ways, so the first girl's basketball team was formed.

1926 marked a wonderful year for these young people. Tobacco was becoming an important crop and Hahira was becoming a market center for the crop. This year the Independent Tobacco Warehouse was built and the young people used the warehouse for their gym.

A story is told that Mr. D.K. Hollis Sr. stored peanuts in the warehouse and experienced loss of some of the nuts. He attributed the loss to rats but later discovered that hungry basketball players and fans had consumed them. The Independent warehouse was used for basketball games until 1938. That year no games were played.

The rules for basketball and the game itself was quite different during these years. The court was divided into 3 sections. For the girls this meant 2 guards, 2 forwards and 2 centers. The tallest girl on the team was usually jumping center and the shortest fastest was side center. You were also allowed to dribble the ball only one time.

Some of the teams Hahira played during these years were Valdosta, Ashburn, Adel, Nashville, Morven, Chula, Ty-Ty, and Lakeland. There were no buses to carry the teams on out of town trips so they went in cars. On one such trip this young man had a new roadster with a rumble seat so he volunteered to take the girls to Chula. On the way they got in a thunderstorm. Those riding in the rumble seat got soaked. Then when they got to Chula the gym leaked so badly it was almost like playing outside. But they were girls from Hahira High so they gave it their best.

Some who played on the teams from 1922 and early thirties are still living in Hahira or in the area today.

On the girls team were Mrs. Eva Fields who played in 1926, 27 and 28. Mrs. Eva was a guard and a good one so I hear. Ruth Reddy played side center in 29-30 and 31. Ruth was 4'11" and left handed, so she was called Lefty or Shorty. She was named most valuable player in the 1931 Tournament held in Nashville. Others who played during this time were Ruth Merwin, Clydie Hall, and Mrs. Hugh McIntyre and Mrs. Robert Belcher who now live in Valdosta.

On the boys team were B.J. Miley (1922) and Charlie Cornelius. Others were Gene Miley, Norwood Miley and Gene Webb. During this time I understand Dr. Barker's father Gilbert and his aunt Ruth also played on the teams.

In 1938 something wonderful happened. A new gym was built. But this excitement was short lived. The big news that highway 122 was coming through Hahira caused unrest. People were not happy that the students would have to cross the highway to get to the gym. You know what? The gym burned in 1940. Only two seasons of ball were played in it. Two boys who played then were H.A. Miley and Bobby Passmore. I'm told that the game could get pretty rough during these years. Only one referee for boys and girls teams.

A new gym was begun and completed in early 1941. Mr. John Hensley said he worked on the wiring before going off to WW II.

During the war years the teams continued to play but they were very limited in travel in 1943-44. During this time a county tournament was held. There were five high schools in Lowndes County. Hahira, Pine Grove, Naylor, Lake Park and Clyattville. Most of you remember the fierce competition that existed between these schools.

I'm told that during one of the tournaments Hahira and Pine Grove girls were playing. It was a close game and a controversial one but Pine Grove was given the victory. The next night the Hahira team sat in the middle of the gym floor in protest. The issue had to be resolved before the game could begin. Pine Grove won. The only time the teams were united was when one of them played Valdosta.

In 1951 someone special came to Hahira. True Sonny Martin and I both came that year but I'm referring to Mr. Jack Garrard. Jack was hired to coach boy's basketball. He was a quite, reserved individual but a dynamic coach. He immediately introduced the idea of a Christmas tournament and Mr. Diebert agreed to it. First held in 1952. There was no such tournament held in these parts so it became a very successful thing. In the first tournament, teams from Valdosta, Tifton, Pine Grove, Naylor, Doerun, Pearson and Willacooche participated. The Tifton boys and willacooche girls won.

In February the gym caught fire again. Fortunately only the very front was destroyed. It was renovated immediately adding a nice concession stand.

In 1955 Hahira sent its boy's team to the state tournament for the first time. Members of this team were Briggs Tyler, Ralph Millirons, Bobby Vickers, Eddie Boone and Tommy Martin. Coached by Jack Garrard this team lost four games during the season. They lost to season games to Lakeland; they lost the Christmas tournament to Lakeland. And who beat them in the state tournament? You guessed it! Lakeland!

In 1959-60 Hahira and Pine Grove consolidated. In 1965 the Hahira girl's team went to state for the first time. James Studstill was coach and on the team was Ellise Passmore, Linda Coward, Beverly Weaver, Judy Lavendar and Dianne Fletcher.

In 1967 with the consolidation of Hahira High and Lowndes High, Hahira became a Jr. High. The great love for basketball didn't stop. It still continues today. Many of the girls and boys go on to play for Lowndes County High.

Remarks given by Mrs. Peggy Griffin at the dedication of the Hahira Gym in 19??.

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