There were close games and thrilling wins for the Greenville Middle School basketball teams this season.

The boys' team went 12-3 under the guidance of first year head coach Chresal Threadgill.

Not to be outdone, the GMS Tigers went 9-3.

Mike Connor is the girls' head coach.

"The boys did a great job this season and I'm proud of each and every one of them for their efforts," Threadgill said. "They hustled in every game and every practice."

Threadgill said he is the type of coach that stresses academics.

"My main concern was to see the players keep up their grades during the season," the coach said. "I wanted the boys to be able to excel in both sports and academics."

Threadgill said it was a pleasure coaching the boys.

"They're a class act," Threadgill said. "As a group, we all went through the season with a winning mentality."

The girls' team also had a winning mentality as they won 75 percent of their games.

Coach Connor said the girls played their best game of the season

in their last game.

"The win against Wilcox was a great win because the girls played up to their abilities," Connor said.

Connor, in his second year, coached the squad to the best girls' team record ever at GMS.

"We struggled with leadership at the beginning of the season, but some of the younger players stepped up," Connor said. "Although they came in inexperienced, they all did great."

The coach said one of the trying times of the season was when Kesha Scott, one of the team's leaders, got injured.

"When she went down, some of those seventh graders had to take over and do the job," the coach said.

Connor said he was proud of the way the team responded.

"That situation helped to further develop the character of the team," he said.

Connor said the team worked hard and had a good season.

Together, the GMS teams recorded a 21-6 record in 1999.