TIFTON, Ga. — CHESS basketball is back.

Tift County’s newest prep squad tipped off its regular season last week and has a full slate of games awaiting it.

The Knights fell to Waycross’ Southside, 49-39, but to head coach Jason Bishoff, it’s a good sign. Southside beat them handily twice last year. “Our defense kept it down,” he said.

Southside might be one of the toughest teams during the campaign, which is precisely why Bishoff led off with them.

“I wanted to see what weaknesses our guys have,” he said.

CHESS, an acronym for Christian Home Education and Social Society, debuted its basketball program a year ago. The first year was a successful one, ending in it capturing the Lighthouse Invitational tournament in January and winning its conference.

Bishoff rates the Knights as being strong in several ways. They return several players and all of the starting five is experienced. Leading the charge will be Harmon Maraman, Seth Bishoff, Austin Wiley, Ernest Williams and Blake Manders.

The rest of the roster is being filled out by Jeremiah Weyel, Braxton Culpepper, Holt Dixon, Josh Hall, Eli Aguilar, Bryce Mullis and Will Clark. Dixon is in seventh grade. Culpepper is already highly regarded in one sport; he has won several awards — buckles, saddles and trucks — from roping.

CHESS’ offense is putting up points in several ways. “Good outside shooters,” Bishoff said. When the pressure gets on them, they are able to pass to the blocks where some height is available. The Knights are very aggressive on defense, according to Bishoff; Lots of steals and blocks.

The Knights played their second game Tuesday against Providence of Tallahassee, Florida. The contest was in Tifton and the squad plays home games at the First United Methodist Church. Road games will start next Tuesday at Warner Robins Christian at 7 p.m. CHESS will have one more game before the holidays, a return match with Providence on the road.

The season will resume Jan. 6 with a home contest against Byne of Albany. The following day, the Knights play at Southside. On Jan. 14, they host Community Christian Academy at 3 p.m. After that, they travel to Byne Jan. 17, host Warner Robins Christian Jan. 20 and have one more home game with Community Christian Jan. 24, this one at 7 p.m.

Five games on the schedule are a doubleheader. CHESS has been able to expand to having a junior varsity. They will be in action against Byne, Southside and Jan. 20 against Lighthouse Christian at 6 p.m., which is the same date as the home meeting with Warner Robins Christian. “We’re trying to build a program,” he said. It will also serve to get younger players more time on the court.

All the teams on the schedule are familiar, except for one: Community Christian. Bishoff said the school had previously had a team, but this was its first year back in action.

Bishoff said he expects Warner Robins and Providence to be strong in the conference. “It’ll be a big test,” he said.