By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

A Dallas County area basketball coach will be heading to Montgomery to coach some of the best players from around the state.

Keith High School boys’ basketball coach Tommy Tisdale was selected as one the coaches for the South team in the AHSAA North-South All-Star Sports Week basketball game.

“It kind of came as a shock,” Tisdale said.

“Even though we don’t have a player on the team, for me to get selected, it feels like the whole team got selected.”

Tisdale will coach the South squad alongside Murphy High School coach Timothy Waller of Mobile for the game on July 13 at 6 p.m.

The All-Star teams are made up of the top rising seniors from across the state.

This will be the 15th annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Sports Week, which also includes games of baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, softball and football.

Tisdale said his selection to the South coaching staff is a tribute to the success of the Keith High School basketball program.

Tisdale’s Bears advanced all the way to the 1A boys state semifinal in Birmingham last season.

But Tisdale says he isn’t relishing in this honor for himself.

He said this is an accomplishment for the entire team.

“It’s kind of an award for the entire team,” said Tisdale. “It’s more like a team accomplishment than a personal accomplishment.”

Tisdale said he briefly met with coach Waller on Monday and discussed some of the guidelines and rules for the all-star game.

Tisdale’s South team will include some players from the Dallas County area, including Selma High School forward Kerry Mitchell, Dallas County High School guard Aimal Hayes and Southside High School guard Mario Oliver.