Less than a week remains before the Commerce Tigers tip off in their first contest of the year, as they’ll travel to Oglethorpe County to face the Patriots on Nov. 30.
The Tigers won the last pairing of the two teams, winning 48-45 back in Dec. of 2009.
It will be the first of two scheduled meetings between the two teams, with the second taking place later that same week, on Dec. 3, this time at home.
The Tigers are hoping for the same kind of success they saw in their 2009-2010 season, when they won the region title and made it to the elite eight in the state playoffs. Commerce ended their season with a 13-3 record while going 28-8 overall.
“Things are going well,” said coach Chad Bridges. “We have a little over a week left before the first game. The team should be ready to go.”
Commerce is seeing many of last year’s team members back, including seniors Kentrell Williams, Marquese Butler, Brandon Romans, Tyler Gamble, Channing Anderson, Demetrius Bonds and Anthony Norris.
They’ll be backed by junior Chase Klugh and sophomores Jonathan Book, Robert Hayes and Thomas McMillan.
The Tigers will face their first region opponent on Dec. 4, as they challenge Riverside on the road in Gainesville. They’ll follow that with a contest at home on Dec. 7 against Athens Academy, and then travel to Jefferson to face the Dragons on Dec. 10.
Commerce will round out the 2010 portion of its schedule by taking part in the Hart County Christmas Tournament Dec. 18-21.
One highlight of the season will be transitioning to the new pit-style gym in the new school, which is virtually completed. It is not clear yet when the Tigers will get to make the move, but the official opening date is when class resumes after a prolonged winter holiday on Jan. 11. It’s possible the Tigers could use the gym over the winter break.
Commerce will open the 2011 portion of the schedule as it launches into the region line-up, playing host to Towns County on Jan. 7. The Tigers will host non-region foe Jefferson on Jan. 8, then return to region action on Jan. 11 at Tallulah Falls.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Commerce News.
