ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Fitzgerald senior Victor Copeland is the WALB Player of the Week after powering the Canes past Putnam County by nine points Wednesday night, punching Fitzgerald’s ticket to its first Final Four since 1988.

Copeland hit four three-pointers before halftime and continued to answer runs with big shots throughout the game. He finished through contact and helped keep Fitzgerald composed as Putnam County applied pressure late.

‘It’s me versus them’

“Anybody that line up in front of me, kill them,” Copeland said. “It’s me. I’m in a dogfight. It’s like I’m going to war. It’s me versus them. Especially the person lining up in front of me.”

Copeland credited the team’s chemistry for the win.

“This team, we fight together, and we just do what we got to do to win,” he said. “We got a lot of chemistry. Everybody locked in. Everybody, they know where to be. They know what to do. Everybody play their role good.”

The senior said the group has had this run in mind for years.

“We already knew since we was in eighth grade that we were going to make a run in our senior year,” Copeland said. “It just takes time.”

Fitzgerald will continue its postseason run with a trip to Fort Valley.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.