Pirates Win Championship
Yalobusha County supervisors congratulated Coffeeville High School basketball players for winning the MHSAA Boys Class 1A championship last Friday. Pictured with the supervisors are (front row, from left) Coach Demarius Bush and players Delanta Tellis, Khalil Chairse, Stanford Spearman, Jr. and Tacorion Reed. Coach Bush explained that state testing was underway at Coffeeville High School and many of the players could not leave the school for a quick visit with county officials at the Coffeeville courthouse.
COFFEEVILLE – The Coffeeville Pirates basketball team notched a state championship, defeating Baldwyn, 63-45, to claim the MHSAA Boys Class 1A title at the Mississippi Coliseum on Feb. 28. The win ended a 67 year drought for a state title and marked the third time in school history.
“Coffeeville hasn’t won a state championship since 1957 and as a community, we are very proud of this team,” District 4 Supervisor Eddie Harris said as team members were recognized during Monday’s Board of Supervisor meeting at the Coffeeville courthouse.
Harris also said that a fundraising effort is underway in the community to purchase championship rings for the team members.
“Each ring costs $280, so we are looking at $6,700,” Harris added.
Harris’ comments came after four teams members and Coach Demarius Bush posed with county officials for a picture.
“We want to recognize this team, because y’all are representing Coffeeville and Yalobusha County,” Board President Cayce Washington added.
The win marked Coffeeville’s (23-6) third state championship in school history, with the last title coming in 1959. Stanford Spearman, Jr. racked up an impressive team-high 37 points to lead the Pirates.
Spearman was named the Most Valuable Player.
“That is the most points that has ever been scored in a finals game,” Harris noted. “And he has a 3.8 grade-point-average, he is hooping in basketball and working in the classroom.”
The Pirates took an early lead and never trailed in the championship game. They ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 17-10 lead. The team went on a 7-2 run at the start of the second quarter to extend their lead and was ahead 30-19 at halftime.
The lead was cut down to 45-37 in the fourth, but Coffeeville responded with a 9-3 run and Jarvis Ross hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
“This just goes to show you it is possible,” Bush said. “Keep putting your faith in these young guys and we can win more championships.”
The team was motivated by the memory of their late teammate Quinterrion “Uno” Smith, who tragically passed away in July 2024.
