The Blue Tide boys basketball team begins its quest for a state championship tonight in Louisville where they will take on Jefferson County High School. This is the fourth consecutive year Long County has made the state playoffs, although the squad did struggle this season.

The Tide made it to the Sweet 16 round of the state tournament the past three years and even went to the Elite 8 in 2008.

This year’s team has been inconsistent at times. The Blue Tide pushed Region 3-AAA champs Liberty County High School to the limit before losing to them by 3 points. Long County also took Region 2-AA champs McIntosh County into overtime before suffering a loss.

The Tide won three games over Pierce County and Jeff Davis, but played sporadically from one quarter to the next.

Jefferson County brings an 11-15 record into tonight’s game. They were 4-4 in Region 3-A AA. The Warriors were runners up
in their region tournament after losing 78-64 to Laney High School.

Long County has a 14-13 season record and a 10-7 Region 2-AA mark.

The Warriors are averaging 62 points on offense and allowing 61 points on defense. The Blue Tide is averaging 64 points and allowing 62.

Tonight’s match is at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson County High School gym in Louisville.