For the 2011-2012 Selma High School Lady Saints, the season may have ended in defeat at the Class 5A South Regional Tournament, but it was ultimately another season marked with success that has become a trademark of the program.

Under the direction of head coach Anthony Harris, the Lady Saints finished the year 25-4, ranked No. 9 in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A state poll, and captured another Class 5A Area 5 championship in the process.

It was a year that continued a tradition of winning for the Lady Saints, as in the past nine seasons under Harris, Selma has finished with at least 20 wins each season, going to the regional tournament each year, winning eight area titles and making two trips to state in Birmingham.

Harris said hard work, dedication and the efforts and support of many has been key to the program’s success during his tenure.

“I’m very determined in what I do. Once I can sell my program to the kids, we work from there,” Harris said. “Over the past nine years with girls basketball, those kids have done an exceptionally good job as far as our program. The city’s been behind us and I appreciate the city, the student body, the parents, the faculty and staff, (Selma City Schools Athletic Director) Mr. Patrick Evans and everybody that’s supported us over the years.”

Harris said he’s a hard coach to play for, but he’s fair, and a commitment from the players to a program that starts preparing from spring all the way up to the season has been crucial to Selma’s winning tradition.

Hard work, Harris said, is his mantra.

“When it comes down to coaching — and a lot of people may look at coaching differently than me — academics and athletics go hand in hand,” Harris said. “Hard work is going to show. If you don’t put nothing in it, you don’t get nothing out of it. I think my players have been an advocate of me. I work hard, they work hard.”

Harris said the players have been a model of success on and off the court.

“With the girls, I haven’t had problems with academics, with discipline,” Harris said. “We’ve been fortunate to have the young ladies come through and do what they’re supposed to do, not only in the sport arena, but in the academics and character.”

While Harris is the leader of the Lady Saints on the sideline, he said he doesn’t deserve all the credit for what has been a collaborative effort in commitment to winning.

“That’s been a blessing to Selma High’s program, and I know sometimes we give all accolades to the coaches, but my coaching staff, my trainer, my statistician, and my players make things work for me,” Harris said. “I give all praise and glory to them. They do the job for us. It’s not about coach Harris. I’m the captain of the ship, but they row the boat for me.”