TIFTON, Ga. — The Irwin County Indians are not used to being here. No sir, not for basketball.

When the Indians entered the state playoffs earlier this month, they had not won a game in it since 2003. Not only did they win one this time around, they did so after earning a first round bye.

Wednesday at 7 p.m., Irwin hosts a state quarterfinal game in Ocilla against Wilcox County. The winner moves on to a semifinal, slated to be held at Valdosta State next weekend.

“They refuse to lose,” said head coach Steve Green, whose squad is 23-4. He had been told it had been a long time since Irwin had been this far, but he did not know just how long that was.

Irwin County’s last state quarterfinal appearance was so many years back, Dwight Eisenhower was President and the Georgia High School Association considered Irwin to be the same size as Tifton, Newnan and Athens. It’s been so long ago, that Irwin was fielding only its third team under the name, having opened in 1952 as a consolidation of Ocilla and Irwinville.

The Indians lost the 1955 championship to Blackshear 55-51. It was a rivalry game. Blackshear was coached by Wallace “Country” Childs, who only a few years before had coached the legendary Irwinville Farmers to three championships in long-defunct Class C. After that appearance didn’t see another until Chuck Folker took them to state from 2001. They won a single game in both 2002 and 2003.

“The boys are loving it,” said Green of the recent success. So, too, is the county. He’s expecting a capacity crowd Wednesday.

Irwin is familiar with Wilcox. They both belong to Region 1 and split games during the regular season. Green said everyone was anticipating round three in the region finals, but Wilcox was knocked off by Clinch County in a semifinal 74-69. It was only their third loss of the season.

None of Wilcox’s defeats have been by much. Worth County won by eight in December. Irwin beat them 73-66 in January and Clinch won two weeks ago.

Irwin beat Clinch 60-58 for the region crown, ensuring a first round bye in state.

Green said his players made a promise that night. “They said in the dressing room ‘We’re not losing this game.’”

Irwin is led by junior Jamorri Colson and senior Javon Stanley.

“You can’t ask for a better ballplayer,” said Green of Stanley. Any of the Indians’ starters can be the leading scorer in a game, he said. These players include Gabriel Benyard, Garland Benyard and Kobe Barnes. The Benyard twins, who are sophomores, do different things on the floor. Garland will “just absolutely light it up from outside,” said Green. Garland may be “the fastest man in the world.”

Green has led Irwin to victory despite one big disadvantage: height. No one on the roster is listed above 6-foot-2. That actually matches up well with Wilcox, he said, as the Patriots like outside shooting.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Green.

Wednesday’s winner will take on either Treutlen or Hancock Central in the state semifinal.