That’s what Franklin County coach Chris Jordan’s 2004-05Hoop-Dawgs have been saying since their return from the late JulyBeach Bash Basketball Tournament and Team Camps in beautiful Ft.Walton Beach, Fla. Jordan’s Dawgs went 8-0 in the tournament.

“Our guys just went out there and hustled and played somequality basketball,” said Jordan. “Our team chemistry and defensereally made the difference.”

Jordan’s crew was made up of guards DeAndre Cameron, JonathanBrooks, JaMicheal Smith, Sedetrick Chambliss, and Jasper O’Quinn;forwards Abren Williams, DeAndre Davis, Wesley Brown and MarcusTillman. They steam-rolled through the nearly 50-team field.

“Franklin County played tough the whole time they were here,”said tournament director Marc Tisza. “This was their first timeback since 2000 and we were glad to have them back. They impresseda lot of people.”

The Bulldogs beat several Class 5A, 4A, and 3A schools out ofthe tournament’s 8-state area. Teams from Mississippi, Louisiana,Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansasparticipated in the camp.

“We beat some very good teams,” added Jordan. “There were noeasy ones. Every team played hard and made plays.”

Jordan’s Dawgs beat Class 5A power Birmingham-Lee out of Alabamato advance to the tournament championship against East Hall ofGeorgia.

“It was a pair of 3A schools battling it out in the final,”continued Tisza. “Franklin County’s hustle and rebounding prettymuch was the deciding factor.”

The Bulldogs’ undefeated mark in the tournament is their bestever in recent memory. The Bulldogs also participated in theCopiah-Lincoln team camps in June, posting an 8-2 mark.

“These guys worked really hard for this down there,” saidJordan. “Our guard play and our size really helped us, and that’salways a plus.”

The Beach Bash Tournament and team camps is run by Marc and PamTisza out of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. every summer. Teams locally andnationally compete.

“This year Natchez and Franklin County represented southMississippi well,” said Tisza. “Pass Christian also wasimpressive.”

Franklin County was awarded a plaque and tournament championshipT-shirts for winning the crown.

“This is something we all wanted and we got,” said Bulldog teamcaptain and starting senior point guard DeAndre Cameron. “We hadsome fun down in Florida.”

Jordan’s team made some life-long memories and beat qualityteams in winning tournament top honors, something he believes waswell worth the nearly 6-hour drive on a bus.

“The main thing that matters is the kids had a good time andthey learned something,” added Jordan. “It was a good experiencefor all of us.”