VALDOSTA – Scintilla Charter Academy continues to expand with the launch of its first-ever varsity boys’ basketball team. 

Since the school’s founding in 2015, Scintilla Academy has steadily grown its athletic program, starting with middle school sports in 2019 and high school sports last year. Now, with a young and talented roster composed entirely of first- and second-year students, the team is off to a stellar start with a 3-0 record in their inaugural season.

Scintilla delivered a resounding 97-40 victory over Furlow Charter School of Americus in their first-ever varsity game. The game started competitively, with Scintilla leading 19-11 after the first quarter. However, the Spartans took complete control in the second quarter, opening with a dominant 23-4 run. The team maintained its intensity, finishing with a 26-5 fourth quarter to seal the first win.

The Spartans showcased their shooting prowess, knocking down 14 three-pointers as a team. Sophomore Tyler Williams led the way, scoring 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Fellow Spartan Kendall Franklin also shined, contributing 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the victory.

The momentum continued to their second game on Tuesday night, where Scintilla faced Highland Christian Academy. In a hard-fought defensive battle, the Spartans emerged victorious with a 49-36 win, showing their mentality to win in high-scoring and grind-it-out contests. 

Head coach Evan Grantham, in his second year with the program, is optimistic about the team’s rapid development. 

“Honestly, being where we are at the varsity level with just freshmen and sophomores feels pretty good. It feels like we are ahead of the plan,” he said. 

The coach praised the team’s work ethic and highlighted a bright future as they continue building toward a full varsity schedule next year.

The excitement surrounding Scintilla’s varsity basketball program is part of a larger story of athletic growth at the school. The middle school boys’ basketball team is enjoying an impressive start to their season and currently leads their conference, providing a solid foundation for future high school teams. In an exciting milestone, the first middle school girls’ team in the school’s history has achieved their first-ever victories.

In football, Scintilla Academy continues to break new ground. Last year, the middle school football team reached the playoffs for the first time, and this year saw the debut of the school’s first junior varsity football team. Looking ahead, the football program plans to adopt a hybrid schedule next year, similar to the basketball program, as they continue building toward varsity competition.

Scintilla Charter Academy aims to join the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) in two years. By then, with its first senior class on the roster, the Spartans hope to compete for regional championships in Class A Division II alongside established programs like Brooks County and Clinch County.

Fans can look forward to supporting the JV and Varsity teams during their upcoming home games. While the teams will be playing several away games in the meantime, the next JV home games will be against Valdosta on December 2 and Berrien on January 4

The Varsity team will host their next home game on January 10 against Southwest GA STEM.