Tasha Tough Classic makes debut Dec. 7
Published 9:08 am Friday, November 29, 2024
- LSU’s Theresa Plaisance (55) walks past then-LSU assistant coach Tasha Butts as she celebrates the team’s win over Kentucky with guard Jeanne Kenney after an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 24, 2013. Georgetown women’s basketball coach and BHS alum Tasha Butts died Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, after a two-year battle with breast cancer. (AP photo/File)
In honor of a true Baldwin County basketball legend, the alma mater of former University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer and college coach Tasha Butts is staging the ‘Tasha Tough Classic,’ a full day of high school basketball Dec. 7 at Baldwin High School’s James A. Lunsford gymnasium.
Dexter Ricks, athletic director for Baldwin High, stated that there’s been talks over the years of having such a day during the high school basketball season, especially one to recognize the career of Tasha Butts. When she passed away after a long battle with breast cancer in October, 2023, that’s what Ricks said turned the talks into action.
The AD credited Baldwin boys basketball head coach Ben Smith for getting the word out about the ‘Tasha Tough’ and get eight visiting high schools to commit to the classic. There are three girls and three boys basketball games scheduled with the first tip-off at 10 a.m.
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That first game is Dodge County versus Putnam County girls. The remainder of the slate is:
Spencer versus Westside-Macon boys, noon
Spencer versus Central-Macon girls, 2 p.m.
Putnam County versus Northeast-Macon boys, 4 p.m.
Baldwin vs. Holy Innocents’ girls, 6 p.m.
Baldwin vs. New Hampstead boys, 8 p.m.
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Tickets are $15 each and must be purchased at Baldwin High School’s GoFan page.
Tasha Butts graduated from Baldwin High in 2000, played for Tennessee and then was an assistant coach at schools like UCLA and Georgia Tech. In 2023, she was hired as the head coach at Georgetown University, but had to quickly resign the position due to her health condition.
Prior to the ‘Tasha Tough Classic,’ Baldwin High has two home Region 4-AAA basketball doubleheaders scheduled, one Dec. 3 against West Laurens and one Dec. 6 against Harlem High.
• On Nov. 23, the defending state champion Baldwin High girls lost a neutral-site game held at Central High in Macon. It was the HypeSouth Hardwood Classic, and Kizzi Walker’s Bravettes faced Thomson High. Thomson led 30-21 at the half then went on to win 64-54, dropping the Baldwin girls to 1-1. Kassidy Neal had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and another double-double came from Janaye Walker with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Baldwin, though, had 26 turnovers to 12 by Thomson.
