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AUGUSTA, GA (WJBF)- For just the third time in CSRA history, two local teams are playing each other in a state championship game. The Harlem and Cross Creek boys will clash in Macon for a 3A basketball title, but it’s an extra special matchup for the Shine family.
Harlem’s Ty Shine Jr. and Cross Creek’s Derrick Shine Jr. may play on opposite teams, but they happen to be second cousins.
“It’s crazy, but it’s really not that crazy to me because it feels like a regular game to me as well,” said Ty Shine Jr.
“They left at halftime, so he called me right after, and said see you in the state championship,” said Derrick Shine Jr.
Two basketball stars, who are also best friends off the court.
“We’re very close. We talk almost every day, that’s my man, I literally talked to him just yesterday, so yeah, I talk to him almost every day,” Ty Shine Jr. said.
However, that connection gets completely set aside come gametime.
“We’ll see some trash talking, it gets to that point, but all still in the lines of the game, but they both want it,” said Ty Shine Sr.
“When we’re on the court, because the last three times I didn’t play against him, this is going to be my chance to show that I’m the real shine,” Derrick Shine Jr. said.
That competitive spirit isn’t new to the family, as they’ve actually competed against each other before.
“They played each other in the championship in middle school, as well, on opposite teams and Derrick actually came out on top that time,” Ty Shine Sr. said.
Take it from their fathers, both hoopers in high school, with Ty’s father a Seton Hall standout. They both passed down the love of the game to their sons.
“What we were taught, we teach them. We stay in the gym with those gyms, when people think they’re not working, we go to the gym at 11 or 12 o clock at night,” Ty Shine Sr. said.
“Both of those guys put in a lot of work, they’ve been playing basketball since the first or second grade, we’re a basketball family,” said Derrick Shine Sr.
Hard work aside, once that ball tips off, the family’s emotion will be at an all-time high.
“We’re all nervous, but like I said earlier man, it’s fun, it’s family, we all love each other. But again, someone has to lose, and that’s the bad part about it,” Derrick Shine Sr. said.
But, regardless of what happens, family is what’ll always keep them together.
“We’re rooting for both teams, because it starts with family first. We’re just happy as a family that both of those guys, that they get to play in a game like this,” Derrick Shine Sr. said.
“Everybody is enjoying, everything that is coming that is coming with it, we feel humble and blessed at the same time,” Ty Shine Sr. said.
The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. at the Macon Coliseum Wednesday night.
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