TIFTON — While most people in America will be thinking of turkeys and parades this week, the Tiftarea Academy Lady Panthers will be playing basketball. The squad will be at Terrell Academy starting Monday for two days of action.

Tiftarea will suit up against Glenwood, Ala. Monday and Crisp Academy Tuesday.

They come into the tournament with two games under their belts, both against Echols County. They won 52-29 over Echols Nov. 16. Another game against Echols was played at Statenville Saturday.

It’s a young team in Chula — only three senior posters adorn the gym wall — but head coach Amy Strenth said she felt good about the season so far. That probably has a lot to do with the first Echols game. Tiftarea did not quite lead from start to finish, but came darn close. Echols scored the first basket, but an Ally Pate steal two minutes into the contest meant they were up 4-2. It was a very long night for Echols afterwards.

Strenth’s club is learning life without Abby Carswell. The first player to score 1,000 points since 2009, Carswell started for five years. The last four saw them make the state tournament, with one region title. Carswell’s steadiness made for quite easy target for passes.

“I think the girls realize that they know they have to pick up,” she said. Carswell averaged 15 of their 41 points per game last season. Only two others averaged as much as five. Fortunately, they’re both back. Ally Pate and Bailey Jones are two of the three seniors (along with Carlie Strenth).

Height will be an issue for the Lady Panthers. Strenth said she has no one over 5’8”. They make up for that in aggressiveness, especially from the younger players. She highlighted Ali Strenth and Livi Mullis in that department. Mullis transferred over from CHESS Academy, where she was the main scorer. Strenth likes what she sees, calling Mullis “coachable” with “long arms and good hands.”

If the head coach did have any complains about their performance against Echols in the opener, it was the fouling. The visitors hit four field goals, for eight points. The other 21 they scored came from the free throw stripe.

Another freshman making an impact is Elli Bryan. She and Ali Strenth had lots of playing time as freshmen and this year Bryan is taking even more of a leadership role in her point guard responsibilities. Bryan dished out a number of assists, but she was hardly the only unselfish one on the floor.

“As a whole, that’s where I see the best and biggest difference (from last season) — the passing game,” said Strenth.

Scoring was just as balanced against Echols in the first game. Ali Strenth had 10 points, Carlie Strenth scored nine and Jones and Allee Cooper each had seven.

Tiftarea’s varsity is also composed of A.C. Walker, Grace Odom and Jolee Paulk. The latter led Tiftarea scorers in the second half with six points.

After the tournament at Terrell, Tiftarea hits the road. They will play at Westwood Dec. 3 and Westfield Dec. 5. Their next home game is scheduled for Dec. 6 when they host Southwest Georgia Academy.