In a way, it seems that Berrien High School considered basketball a secondary sport. When the brand-new consolidated school opened in 1954, it was missing a key component: a gym. The students and other community members had built a football field during the summer to give the Rebels a place to play, but no such thing came for the cage teams.

The Rebs and Rebelettes of the hardwood simply had to play at other sites. Home gyms were at four of the elementary schools who had lost their secondary students to consolidations. Alapaha, Enigma, Nashville, and Ray City would all host games, depending on opponents. While closest, the gym at Nashville Elementary was the least used. The facility would be condemned and torn down less than ten years after Berrien High opened its doors.

Playing in four home gyms could certainly be considered a detriment. For some schools, the distance to the particular home gym was nearly as close for them as it was for Rebelettes. Eventually, Berrien would get a little more uniform and schedule most of the home games in Alapaha, arguably the nicest place of the bunch.

But from these circumstances rose a power.

"To win the game, the Valdostans must match the points of Gaskins, for there just is no way of keeping that girl from scoring, short of fouling her on every shot, which is certainly no solution."
-- Valdosta Times, Feb 14 1958

The above quote refers to Dona Gaskins. Slightly more than six feet tall, she became the first Rebelette to attract attention.

Until the 1970-71 season, females played a different breed of basketball in Georgia. A halfcourt line separated a team's six starters - three forwards and three guards. In some ways, the rules promoted offense and in some ways, it detracted.

With just six girls per end of the floor, it was easier to maneuver. A tall player, such as Gaskins could easily dominate the floor, as the lack of players prevented anything other than cautious double teaming. Though it could also be a positive, it stymied the most athletic of girls and allowed for less gifted players to start (usually these types were strong shooters). As the females could not cross the center line, it forced coaches to determine the girls' strengths and determine which side of the floor to keep her on. Rarely did a star player see action on the other side of the court.

The rules of the day certainly benefitted Gaskins. She did not have to move from her spot on the floor, which was just below the basket. And she played her part well. Nearly every scoring record from the three-on-three days belonged to her. Though an unfair comparison, if her stats were put side-by-side with later year Rebelettes, the same would hold true. On the whole (1955-59), she scored 2500 points, nearly 700 more than the next in line.

Despite the scoring strength of Gaskins, Berrien did not reach a state tournament with her. The year after the graduated, a defense-minded Rebelette squad captured the region crown and advanced to the Macon City Auditorium. There, they lost to eventual state runner-up, Warner Robins.

The team then suffered through a difficult 1960-61, going 10-11. It was just their second losing season in school history.

Stanley Simpson arrived in 1961. Fresh out of college and crewcut, he also assumed control of the Rebels in this, his first year of coaching. Both teams struggled, though the girls caught a break. A region playoff system that had not been used in years, was brought out for one year only. Generally, only the region champion and runner-up advanced to state. In 1962, third and fourth place teams advanced as well. Berrien went in as a #3 with a 10-14 mark. They defeated College Park for their first ever state win before falling to Hart County.

Though the Rebelettes would not see state action again until 1968, Simpson built a program. For the rest of his tenure, the girls never again had a losing record. They captured sub-region titles in 1963, 1964, and 1965, but fell prey one game short of going to state each time. He also added the girls' second and third 1000 point scorers - Anne Whidden and Beth Taylor both achieved the mark in the 1964-65 season.

The 1967-68 campaign began 1-1, with the Rebelettes scoring their least amount of points ever (21) in a loss to Tift County. Game three against Thomasville started evenly until Simpson discovered a new weapon that had been in waiting on his bench.

A junior, Joanna Smith had scored a grand total of 20 points in her career coming into the game against the Thomasville Bulldogettes. That night, she came off the bench to score 28.

Smith was the opposite in stature of Dona Gaskins. Only standing 5'2", her best shot was a running layup that saw her shoot the ball about 10 feet from the goal. By game four, (which actually became a rare loss to Lanier County) she started, a role she'd never give up. Smith joined talented forwards Marla Brown and Judy McKinnon and an all-star defense of Peggy Heath, Peggy Barber, and platooning starters Judy Fender and Lenna Carey.

While another odd tournament glitch - double elimination - allowed them to go to state, they did well in two games: a win over Ringgold and a loss to state power Franklin County. Rebelette region mate Northside of Warner Robins rode the talents of their 6'3 forward, Kay Foskey, and won the state crown.

Though with a better won/loss record, the 1968-69 Berrien season ended much the same. One state win (College Park), one state loss (Wheeler). The final 26-3 record caused Simpson to wonder slightly before his next season opened if these Rebelettes could achieve more than the last.

A stifling defense and a good offense ultimately ended any uneasiness he had. One opponent after another fell and Berrien began the state tournament undefeated at 26-0, a first in their history. Though starting forward Marla Brown missed some time with an ailing back, the Rebelettes coasted past Lakeshore (43-26) and O'Keefe (53-28), which now gave them their longest stay in state. Forsyth County then left to a 54-42 tune and the girls were now in the finals against Waycross.

The game started with ease, Berrien jumping out to a 23-12 halftime margin and were up 32-22 after three. A furious comeback by the Bulldogettes saw the girls only score five 4th quarter points. The defense, though held on and Waycross thankfully scored 10, leaving them five points shy (37-32). In the wake of the state tournament victory, seven Rebelettes were selected first team All-State or honorable mention - forwards Marla Brown, Donna Jernigan, and Mary Grace Bailey and guards, Lenna Carey, Peggy Barber, Andrea Carter, and Brenda Rudeseal.

The winning streak reached 47 games before the girls bowed to Tift County late into the 1970-71 campaign. Though the defense never allowed over 35 points in any game, they bowed in the first round of state to Telfair County, 25-31. Simpson was disappointed, but the girls had faced major changes that season.

First was a shift in the rules. Six players were still on the floor, but two players per team - rovers - could cross the center line and play offense and defense. Secondly, Simpson saw five of his All-Staters graduate. Only Jernigan and Rudeseal remained.

After the Rebels completed an amazing 30-0 campaign, winning their first state title, Stanley Simpson decided it was time to move on. He had achieved everything possible at Berrien and it was now his opportunity to see if the same magic could happen elsewhere.

Dona Fields was by no means a newcomer to the game of basketball. Twelve years earlier, she had been Dona Gaskins and all-time leader scorer in Berrien history. For part of Simpson's tenure, she had coached tennis, junior varsity basketball, and kept the basketball scorebooks.

The 1971-72 season started shaky, as she lost her first game to Lowndes and also to Waycross to start 2-2. By the end of the annual Lowndes Christmas Tournament, she had lost twice more: a regular season game to Cairo and the Christmas tournament finals to Tift County. Add to her season's woes that lineup changes eventually saw her starting a Berrien rarity, a freshman - Debra Smith.

Jeff Davis dropped Berrien for her fifth loss in February and for a sixth in the sub-region finals, a miserable outing that saw the Rebelettes go scoreless in the first and muster 25 points in a 10-point loss. Two tight region tournament wins over Cairo and Jeff Davis propelled the girls into their fifth consecutive state appearance.

Morrow was blasted, 48-26, but that was to be the last easy game. Perry would be the next widest margin of victory, a 51-48 final. Tough Franklin County fell 36-35 in the semifinals. The GHSA had scheduled the semis and the finals to be a nice high school, which they had done in years past. Unfortunately, neutrality walked out the door.

The Rebelettes played against Wheeler of Marietta, who had beaten them in 1969's tournament play. The game was not just played in Cobb County, or in Marietta. It was played in Wheeler's gym.

Just like in 1970, Berrien jumped out to a big halftime lead, 24-15, and led by a good margin (32-25) after the third. Again, Berrien was outscored by five but held on, 43-41. This had been an unexpected joy and a good number of Berrien Countians were on hand to greet the bus as it arrived home. In the front seat sat Judy McNabb, who held the trophy. She was probably selected for the honor as Fields felt the Atlanta press had snubbed her in the All-State selection.

No one could have predicted that this 25-6 record would be the worst that Dona Fields would ever have to endure.

Defense was the key in 1972-73, a region realignment year that saw Berrien drop to Class A. The Rebelettes allowed a paltry 22.7 points per game. More importantly, they roared out of the gate. While the previous year saw many tight games, this year would not. The following scores flashed at the end of the fourth quarter of various games: 90-18, 55-11, 68-16, 82-6, 74-6, and 71-22.

The last of these appeared in the state tournament, of which Berrien entered undefeated at 26-0. The foe was Jackson, who would be joined by Morgan County and Cochran in tournament action. The state finals, though, turned into the ultimate frustration.

Haralson County had evidently heard of the Berrien scoring machine. Their coach, Jane Williamson (who would later coach the girls at Valdosta State), made adjustments. She slowed her offense to a standstill, believing the Rebelettes were unaccostomed to waiting. The calculation was correct, and her lineup squeaked by the Rebelettes for the title, 23-21. An unhappy Berrien finished 29-1.

The next season saw a new Berrien superstar emerge.

Susan Taylor had been raised around the game. Her three older brothers - Ernest, Bobby, and Wayne - had been stars for Berrien. Relative Mack Daughtry had been conference MVP at Albany State and played a season in the ABA. At the same time, Jimmy Daughtry began making his name as BHS' point guard.

Taylor was a feisty forward whose athletic talents were matched by her basketball savvy. On her way to becoming Valdosta State's all-time scoring leader years later, the team played the University of Alabama. Alabama's star was tall. Once, a play was called that saw her teammates surround her under the goal while the ball was inbounded to her. She made the easy bucket. At some point later in the game, the same play was called again. Susan Taylor recognized its name or number and got to the designated spot before the Crimson Tide star. Knowing they had been outwitted, Alabama did not call the play again.

At Berrien, Taylor scored over 500 points as a sophomore. A talented core of Rebelettes lost only once during the regular season, to Waycross at the Christmas Tournament. Going into region, the Rebelette squad was 21-0. That's when they faced Charlton County.

The Maidens had fallen during the season, 91-21 and 51-14. They were clearly a step below Berrien in terms of talent. Before the region tournament game, Fields was informed that a couple of her bench players were ineligible as they were labeled as B-teamers and had played in too many varsity games. The players' main role in varsity games was filling out the third and fourth quarters, when Berrien's lead was usually monstrous. The esteemed coach now had only ten players at her disposal, six of which would be on the floor at once.

Poor Charlton.

It was ugly at the half, 45-4. Uglier after three, 70-4. The obviously tired Maidens saw themselves run over. They did manage to hit two free throws, but Berrien's offense was everywhere. The third of Dee Dorsey's four free throws gave the Rebelettes 100, the first time they ever had reached the number. When the horn finally sounded, Charlton was on the short end of 113-6.

After sealing the region by beating Jeff Davis in the finals, Berrien dispatched of Central Gwinnett in the state tournament's first round. Unfortunately, Haralson County awaited. In another game of their stalled offense, the Rebelettes lost in overtime, 27-29.

All started out roses in 1974-75. Most of the previous team returned and the offense was red hot. Soon into the season, though, they suffered a blow.

Junior starting forward Karen Folsom was expected to have a big year. She, Susan Taylor, and Winnie Keefe could deposit 20 points on any given night. Folsom became physically weak early in 1974-75, the Valdosta Times eventually citing the problem as mononucleosis. She would continue to play, but only for spurts.

The Rebelettes continued their winning ways to the same blowout tune as the two previous seasons had. For the second time in three years, they walked into the state tournament undefeated (25-0). Washington County was doubled (56-27) and nemesis Dodge County fell similarly, 56-38.

Stephens County had something to play for when it faced Berrien in the semifinals. During the state tournament, a few of their fans had been killed in an automobile accident in-route to the game. Berrien, as usual, took the early lead. Things began falling apart in the fourth quarter. Starting forward Winnie Keefe fouled out, as did rover Oletha Mathis. Guard Dee Dorsey was playing with four as was Susan Taylor. Though quite an athlete, Taylor stayed at the forward position. The foul problems of Keefe and Mathis saw her forced into the unfamiliar rover slot.

Stephens County was up by a point, 62-61 late in the game. Berrien brought the ball up the floor where everyone in the Macon Coliseum expected Taylor to take the final shot. The ball was passed to her and she was quickly double teamed. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the open player. Karen Folsom, who had missed so much of the year, was the recipient. Her shot found its mark with 10 seconds to play. Desperation did not work for Stephens County as the ball flitted out-of-bounds, giving the Rebelettes the 63-62 win. They faced Swainsboro for the finals the next night, winning by the easy margin of 53-35.

The next season saw the winning streak rise to 48 games, with Jeff Davis snapping it in Hazlehurst. The Rebelettes were again 25-1 going into state play, beating Decatur in overtime before finally meeting their match with Dodge County. The era of rovers also ended, with only five starters on the floor in 1975-76.

Fields would leave the Rebelettes after the season, accepting an administrative position at Alapaha Elementary. In her five years at the helm, she went 133-11. Donna Barber was brought in for 1976-77. She had been one of Simpson's stars a few years earlier as Donna Jernigan. After the first losing campaign since 1961-62 (10-12), Barber left and was replaced by Ken Weeks.

Weeks came to Berrien from Jeff Davis, where he had mostly been on the losing end of the games between the two teams. He quickly molded his squad into a terrifying force. Going into state play in 1978, they had lost four. Two were to red hot Lowndes, who was in the midst of their 122 game winning streak.

Turner County fell, 40-26. A scheduling glitch saw Berrien face sub-region foe Irwin County in the quarterfinals. The Rebelettes walked away, 58-50. Model lost in the semifinals, 56-48. Bowdon, however, proved to be a difficult test, the Red Devils taking the state crown by a 53-43 final.

As difficult as a runner-up position is to improve, the Rebelettes did just that in 1978-79. This offense would be the most powerful ever seen for Berrien girls, averaging 73 points per game. They did lose three, but those were to Lowndes, who was at its peak, averging 80 and giving up 40 per game. Rose Smith averaged 24 of these and scored the highest amount of points in a season for a Rebelette in the post 3-on-3 era.

At state tournament time, the offense steamrolled everybody. West Laurens, 88-29; Milton, 82-51. Norcross was smashed, 67-42. The finals were against Madison County, who had dispatched of sub-region foe Cairo in the semis. As the Class AAA and AAAA girls' finals were held in the same building (Crisp County High), many Lowndes Vikettes fans arrived early. Their fans sat with Berrien's, their cheerleaders cheered with Berrien's, and Rebelettes crushed Madison County, 68-47. For the AAAA contest between Lowndes and Baldwin, Berrien returned the favor. Fans and cheerleaders were again together as Lowndes cruised by a similar score.

Weeks signed a contract to return for 1979-80. In August, though, he darted for Mississippi to accept the head women's basketball job at Southern Miss. With little other options available, Berrien turned to assistant Larry Maffit. He not only filled the void for this season, he stayed for 10.

A few months earlier, Alapaha Elementary had a plan when they played in the County Tournament. It didn't matter who shot the ball. For if they missed, the rebound would be scooped up and put back in by Bridgett Moore. The strategy worked well, as they flew past Enigma to win the annual event.

Moore would only start a few games as a freshman for Maffit. Her first starting action was the biggest game of the season. Lowndes and its winning streak were coming to town. The gym was so packed, people were turned away at the door. While the Vikettes won by 12, three quarters had been tight, Moore playing quite well.

The Rebelettes were disappointed, losing in the sub-region tournament to Worth County and finished 18-5. The next season, Moore excelled, averaging nearly 20 points per game and hitting for 80% of her free throws. A loss to Brooks County in the state tourney's opening round ended the season at 19-7. The season also saw Maffit developing another player.

Simmie Williams did not start a single game as a freshman, but started every one she played for the next three seasons. She also gave the offense another dimension. Bridgett Moore saw increasing double teams as opponents learned just how good she was. Now if there was too much pressure, pass the ball to Williams. Williams would be under the basket, as she was a natural center. At 6'2", she was also difficult to defend. Berrien would go 23-6 in 1981-82, losing to Macon County in the state quarterfinals.

Maffit knew the next year's squad would be quite good. Williams was a junior, Moore was a senior, as were starters Lisa Leland, Donna Belle, Michelle Gaskins. Three games in, the season looked to be in danger.

Just a few minutes into a home game with Appling County, Michelle Gaskins fell to the hardwood, injuring her knee. It soon would be learned that it would require surgery, ending her season. Gaskins had been the point guard, responsible for directing traffic on the floor. Edwina Johnson, who had started on the Enigma team that had lost to Moore and Gaskins in the 1979 County Tournament, would be the replacement and play quite well in Gaskins' place.

A loss to Cook in the Lowndes Christmas Tournament ended hopes of an undefeated season, but the Rebelettes played on. They would stay with just one loss through the sub-region and region tournaments. In state, Woodland, Washington County, and Mays fell in a row.

Hart County's coach admitted that she was dreading the game. She had hoped that Berrien would fall in the tournament because she feared Bridgett Moore. Under the lights of the dome of the Macon Coliseum, her fears became real and Berrien won its fifth state crown, 61-53.

Simmie Williams was the lone returning starter in 1983-84. Maffit's squad was so young, two freshmen (Rhonda Walker and Tracy Mackey) started. His plan harkened back to the days of Dona Gaskins; he fed the ball to Williams at every opportunity. She averaged nearly 25 per game and carried the Rebelettes back to state. There, she hit for 47 points in the opening round contest against Glenn Hills, a mark that no modern-day Rebelette has equalled. Old Dodge County, though, intervened in the next game and send Berrien back home.

The Rebelettes would face a state tournament drought over the next few seasons. While two girls hit for 1,000 points during this time - Tracy Mackey and Molly Clark - the Maffit teams would be plagued by short benches and defeats in the region tournament.

In his last season, Berrien saw its first state tourney since 1984. The 1989 appearance was short, a 60-62 loss to Wilkinson County, but it capped a remarkable season by Melissa Mackey. Mackey had been in the shadows for her first three seasons, but broke out an average of 24 per game as a senior. Also in the mix was another star in the making, Shonda Deberry.

After the season, Maffit determined it was time to move on and accepted the girls' job at Lowndes. His replacement was a long-time GISA coach, Cliff Ranew.

Ranew took quick advantage of the talent left by Maffit. With Deberry dominating the action along with five others that scored over 200 points on the season (Gwen Green, Lamarice Greene, Dera Harkins, Dana Hill, and Rhonda Walker), the Rebelettes waltzed into the tournament at 22-3. The Atlanta press, not aware of Berrien's strength, had them unranked going to state play.

Seminole County fell by eight and Perry was routed, 75-37. Putnam County was a tougher foe, being subdued at 60-52. In the finals was Crim. Crim, formerly Murphy High School, was coached by Willie Carter and was undefeated. Carter and his girls were dreaming at the thought of a state crown. They even had a highly touted forward, Deborah Reese, who had signed with Georgia. It was a tight game and tied late before reserve Sherron Fagans put the ball back in after a miss, giving Berrien fans some sense of comfort. More comfort, though, came as Crim's foul troubles caught up with them. Four players fouled out in the last two minutes, giving Berrien the 68-60 win and sixth state title.

The Rebelettes would have another amazing team in 1990-91, led again by Deberry (who signed with Old Dominion before the season). They nearly won another state crown, but bowed to Washington County in the semifinals, 53-67.

Ranew stayed on for one more season, which saw the Rebelettes finish 18-8 and lose in the state's first round to Vidalia.

Robert Melton came over to lead the charge in 1992-93.

Melton did not enjoy the successes of previous Rebelette coaches. He did capture one sub-region title, in 1996, but never did advance to state.

Berrien promoted from within after Melton's departure in 1997. Keith Powell had been a reserve on the 1971-72 Rebel squad and had coached basketball at Nashville Middle for more than 15 years. While the world of middle school basketball is generally not as dramatic at the high school variety, Powell had an unbelievable victory of Hahira Middle School in 1995.

Hahira Middle ran something unusual for a middle school, a press. It also had a scoring superstar in Erin Green, who would later star at Lowndes and briefly play collegiately at Elon. She was court savvy beyond her middle school years and in Hahira, would drop 16 in points off the press in a single quarter against Berrien Middle in their first meeting in 1994-95. Green and the middle school Vikettes were so good, they only lost once in three years.

They were still undefeated with the return game with BMS. Powell prepared his players for the press, as it was the key component for making Hahira work. His girls rose to the challenge and delivered that lone loss to Hahira, 43-35. For his efforts, Powell was subsequently doused with the water cooler that sat on the end of the bench.

In his first year at the high school, Powell faced a significant challenge. Melton had won eight in his final year and most of the players graduated. It would be a whole fresh lineup.

Predictably, the Rebelettes struggled. Ranew crushed them at Lowndes in their worst ever loss (76-21), Cook swept them. Starter LaChandra Jones tore her ACL late in the season. At the time, she was the top scorer.

They came back with a vengeance in 1998-99. Cook had fallen twice to the Rebelettes in the season, but built up an early lead in Adel. Slowly, Berrien crept back in. They were down by two with precious seconds left, when Powell formulated his plan. He told his girls which Cook player to foul. Optimistically telling them that after she missed both shots, Berrien would get the rebound and run a sideline break. The subsequent shot would go in.

Sure enough, the fouled Wasp player missed both free throws. LaChandra Jones collected the rebound and set up the break. Cassandra Tisby threw up a shot that missed, but with a second remaining, Laura Dean put it back in for the 51-50 victory. Unfortunately, Berrien barely missed out on a state appearance and finished 15-8.

In middle school play, the two top athletes coming up were Berrien's Samantha Bennett and Cook's Jazz Covington. Both were centers and both could play. As freshman, both would start.

The lineup was easily the most solid one Keith Powell had so far in 1999-00. He had three seniors - Laura Dean, Cassandra Tisby, and Chaka Ward, as well as a solid forward in Yolanda Jackson, and Bennett. They played well through the regular season before squeaking by Early County to gain a state bid.

Going to state, they had lost seven and feared the worst. Putnam County was highest ranked team in Region 3, who would be opposing Berrien's Region 1. As the Rebelettes had slipped to the fourth position, the meeting seemed inevitable. By chance, Swainsboro upset the soaring Eagles and gave Berrien a much better opportunity.

At Darton College, they made the most of that chance, felling Swainsboro 39-37, despite not scoring a field goal in the 4th quarter. Ever-steady Chaka Ward ran down an inbounds pass to seal the win. Cook, who was the third seed, was routed by the annoyed Putnam Countians.

Toombs County was a team on even terms with Berrien in terms of talent. The game was played as tightly as expected, Toombs having the slight lead late in the fourth. Then came disaster.

Attempting to rebound a Bulldog shot, Samantha Bennett landed awkwardly. When the officials finally stopped play, Bennett still had not gotten to her feet. Berrien could not recover from the blow and quietly lost.

Bennett was diagnosed with a torn ACL. A return would be possible, though. Unfortunately for the Rebelettes, Bennett never played again.

Since the state playoff berth in 2000, the Rebelettes have struggled. Six and seven win seasons did blossom into two nearly .500 years. Their region mates have been tough. In 2-AA, Brantley and Cook ruled the roost. Moving back to 1-AA in 2004, Cook and a stifling Mitchell-Baker defense have made victories harder to achieve. Despite the travails, Keelie Allen became the first Rebelette in a decade to score 1000 points.

There is always hope for the future. Nothing lasts forever - after 15 years of excellence, Echols County fell. Once upon a time Valdosta's Kittens were among the top teams in the state.

As long as there is spirit, anything can happen.

"Resurrection is a-gonna come." -- Brian May