Winona boys basketball coach Presley Coleman was one of the coaches at the Northeast Mississippi Basketball Coaches Association all-star game for 3A-6A schools held last Saturday at Booneville High School.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said.
Coleman and Derwin Cooper of Byhalia coached the Blue team to a 73-57 victory over the Red team. Bud Tolbert of Water Valley led the Blue team and was named as offensive MVP. Jaxon Orr of Itawamba AHS was defensive MVP. There were no Winona players in the game.
Calhoun City coach Daren Coffey asked Presley if he would be one of the coaches and he accepted immediately. The coaches met in March to draft teams from a pool of seniors nominated by their schools.
Teams had a practice Friday and a shoot around Saturday morning prior to the Saturday evening game. With very little practice time together, coaches kept it simple. “Me and the other coach (Cooper) got together. I put in two of my (offensive) plays and he put in two of his.” Coleman said.
On defense, teams had to play man-to-man in the half court, but could press in the back court. Blue team did press because Winona and Byhalia both employ a pressing defense.