The 2018 AHSAA North-South basketball boys and girls basketball teams have been selected to play at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Alabama State University’s campus on Wednesday, July 18.

Out of the 60 junior basketball players, Selma High’s Ta’Sharri Grimes and Southside High School’s Derrick Griffin were selected to play for the South team.

Players were chosen from nominations submitted by high school coaches, and the teams were announced this past Friday.

Grimes was the leading scorer for the Lady Saints this past season. The 5-foot-7 forward averaged 15.3 points per game and nine rebounds per game.

“She had a good season this year,” Lady Saints head coach Anthony Harris said. “She is the eighth young lady that I’ve had in 15 years to be a part of the North-South All-star game, and it’s great that she fits in that category of some of the best players that have come through Selma High.”

The versatile forward was a Times-Journal first-team all-county selection because of her production and versatility on the floor.

“She took it upon herself to do what she had to do to lead us to where we got to,” Harris said. “You couldn’t overlook her. She did a tremendous job for Selma High School.”

The Lady Saints needed her to spend more time in the post this season, due to injuries and inexperience on the block.

“She led us in scoring, rebounding and played good defense,” Harris said. “Overall, she carried the load in the post the entire season. She did a tremendous job, and it’s an honor for her to be selected to participate in the North-South All-star game.”

The Southside Panthers will be represented by junior guard Derrick Griffin.

“He deserves it because he’s a hard-working person and he loves the game,” Southside head coach Lenord Jones said. “He worked for it, and was a good all-around player.”

Griffin led his team in scoring and was second in assists and rebounds for the Panthers this past season. He is the first player under Jones to be selected to the North-South All-star game, and he’ll be back for his senior season next year.

“It gives me great joy to coach someone and realize they have the talent to be selected as one of the all-stars,” he said. “We’re looking forward to making a state run, and with a good senior leader like Derrick, I think we can get there.”