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Coach Willie Morgan overcame the COVID-19 pandemic to produce a strong season for the Selma High girls basketball team.

Morgan was named The Selma Times-Journal girls basketball coach of the year for a second straight season.

It’s the third straight year a Selma coach took top girls coaching honor. Anthony Harris was named The Selma Times-Journal basketball coach of the year in 2019.

Morgan edged out Southside’s Rand Smith and Bob Taylor of Meadowview Christian School. “It’s truly an honor, I did not expect to receive the award because there were a lot of coaches in the area who did a great job.”

The Lady Saints went 7-4 and reached the Sub-Regional round in Morgan’s second year. Selma also finished ranked ninth in the Alabama Sportswriters Association poll.

“We had the talent to go all the way,” Morgan said. “The pandemic kept me from coaching. If I had more time, we would’ve produced more.”

The Lady Saints went 18-6 and fell a game short of reaching the Class 6A tournament in Morgan’s first year.

Morgan said he’s eager to get started on year three next season.“I’m very excited about next year,” Morgan said. “We’ll be faster to run an up-tempo style. I’m ready to get the ball rolling.”