CALEDONIA — Caledonia basketball held a weekend invitational for Mississippi and Alabama teams over the weekend, seeing some of the best talent in the region play in the school’s new $10 million facility.
Photo courtesy of Caledonia High School Yearbook
“It was a long day but our kids came out and played well,” Caledonia boys’ basketball head coach Jonathan Comer said on Monday after the tournament. “They knocked down some shots and hit big free throws down the stretch to put that game away. That was huge, they played well and it was a good win for us.”
The weekend games at Caledonia featured teams from Columbus, West Point, Pontotoc, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Sulligent, Red Bay, Paul W. Bryant, Northridge, Hoover and Winfield.
Among the notable players from out of town were DeWayne Brown from Hoover, who is signed to Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class, and MRA freshman Eric Dampier Jr., son of Mississippi State and NBA player Eric Dampier among several others being scouted by college coaches.
“It turned out really good,” Comer continued. “We had a lot of help from parents, volunteers and booster club members. The games were competitive with full crowds, and it was so cool to see all that talent in Caledonia and playing at something we put on. The community came out and supported us and I think this year can catapult it to get even more teams.”
The full slate of games ran a bit long, so Caledonia teams didn’t tip off until after 9 p.m., but it was worth the wait. The Cavaliers were able to show their strength with the boys’ basketball team winning 42-36 against West Point while the girls’ team won 38-33 against Winfield.
Comer praised his team’s ability to get into the game after a slow start, and said the same of Ame Walker’s girl’s team.
“I have to give credit to Coach Walker, she’s done an incredible job. They’ve got two girls inside, Chloe Smith and Ashia Williams, who have really stepped up and they’re both garnering attention. They tipped off at 9 and started a little flat, but they got it together in the second half and blew it open.”
The boys improved to 3-1 on the season with a Monday win against Lamar County while the girls improved to 4-0 against the same opponents. Both teams will see action again at home against Hamilton on Friday.
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