The Cook County Hornets went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in just a matter of days.
Earlier this month, the Georgia High School Association ruled that Cook County had allowed an ineligible player, Jarvis Kyree Fuller, to play. As a result, the Hornets would have to forfeit all of their games in which Fuller had played.
The GHSA’s ruling flipped the Hornets’ record from 5-2 to 0-7, which, according to news outlets, would have put their 22-year streak of making the playoffs in peril.
While Cook vowed to take legal action against the GHSA after losing its appeal, someone a little higher up the food chain stepped in. Alapaha Circuit Judge Clay Tomlinson issued a restraining order on Friday which prevented the GHSA from declaring Fuller ineligible, thereby restoring Cook’s record and putting them in position to make the playoffs and win a region title. The Hornets defeated the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes Friday night 14-7 to improve their record to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in region play.
With the regular season a week from ending, unless the court moves quickly, Cook will make the playoffs and contend for a region championship. There are several twists and turns this case could take and Cook may still be forced to vacate wins. At the moment, however, the Hornets are in very good shape as the season winds down.