Even as a top-five team, followers of the Bulldogs know they haven’t peaked, in large part because time hasn’t allowed them the opportunity. They’re getting close, however. During a two-week stretch that ended Jan. 24, they narrowly lost 70-65 to Putnam County, 54-53 to Butler, and 81-80 to then-No. 1 Westside.

Though the Bulldogs came up empty in those region games, they proved they can compete with 2A’s best.

“We were pleased with everything in all of those games except the results,” Bulldogs coach Michael Thomas said. “We’re just a little behind on certain things because we haven’t been together as a team as long as perhaps some of the other teams.”

Seven of 13 Bulldogs were members of the state championship football team, whose season ended Dec. 9. Basketball season started Nov. 11. In football, schools that failed to qualify for the playoffs, including Westside and Butler, saw their seasons end Nov. 5, making it possible for dual-sport athletes to be ready in time for basketball season, health permitted.

The Bulldogs held their season off as long as possible, beating Swainsboro 62-18 in their opener Dec. 3, by dressing out two team managers and playing several freshmen. It would be nearly a week before key players from football joined the team, including starting quarterback Jahkiaus Jones.

Two other football players, Marcellus Brigham and Tyrekus Jones, needed time to heal from injury and didn’t play until January.

They opened 3-0, winning their second game 82-59 over Wilkinson County, currently No. 8 in 1A Division II. They lost to Westside for the first time, 66-50, on Dec. 16, then ripped off another three wins, including 1ADII No. 8 Social Circle (77-51), and 58-47 over 7A’s host Brookwood on Dec. 28 in the first of three games at the Deep State Classic.

The Bulldogs would go 2-1 in the classic, losing 72-64 to Scottsboro, ranked No. 7 in Alabama’s 5A by MaxPreps computer rankings, on Dec. 29. The next day, in their last game of 2022, they rebounded with a 72-66 win over another 7A school, Collins Hill.

They opened 2023 with region wins over Glenn Hills (103-21) and Laney (91-61) before Putnam County on Jan. 10.

Lavonta Ivery, a 6-foot-2 junior, leads the team in scoring, averaging 20.1 points with 5.1 steals 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists after earning AJC all-state second team and 3-3A player of the year honors last year. Senior TJ Steed, 6-foot-3, averages 17.9 points, including 39% from 3-point range, with 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks.

Jones, a junior, also quarterbacks the basketball team, leading the Bulldogs with an average of 6.8 assists, adding 9.8 points, 3.4 steals and 3.2 rebounds.

Thomas says all three have the same skillset in that, at a high level, they can, “Shoot, pass, drive, handle the ball on the press and create their own offense.”

On Tuesday, the Bulldogs beat Laney a second time, 75-55, and next play a rematch at home against Putnam County (18-4, 9-2) on Saturday. After Josey (2-16, 0-9) Feb. 7, they close the regular season at home against Butler (11-8, 7-3) Feb. 10.

Their hope is, by then, they will be ready, although just in time, for a deep playoff run.

“Every day that we can get on the floor and play a game or practice is a good day,” Thomas said. “It’s beneficial to us, given where we are in the season. Sometimes, if you’re rocking and rolling, you can take a day off from practice here or there, but for us, every day we can get work in is a bonus.”

Last year they reached the 3A semifinals, the furthest the program has been, and they’ve had three quarterfinals finishes since 2017. They’ve reached the playoffs every year since 2012, all under Thomas, who is in his 42nd season at Thomson.

A state title could be within grasp.

“The ceiling is unlimited,” Thomas said. “We really can be as good as anybody, certainly in this classification, and probably a couple above us. We’re capable of going all the way. To be honest, that is the expectation.”