Stace Tedford has had a busy year at Athens. After leading the basketball team to a school-record 24 consecutive wins and regional finals appearance, he jumped straight into soccer season, where he took the varsity girls soccer team to another 5A state championship game.

Tonight, Tedford will be on the court again, coaching in the North-South All-Star basketball game.

“All these kids can play,” said Tedford. “It’s neat to get to work with these guys and just hang out with them, really. They are really working hard and having a good time. Most of these guys have either played with each other or against one another. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know some of these coaches too.”

Tedford was able to practice Monday and twice Tuesday before tonight’s All-Star game. The game will begin at 8 p.m. at Alabama State’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome, following the girls game, which will be played at 6 p.m.

The fourth-year Athens coach will have one of his star players suiting up for the north squad in rising senior Trey Potts. The 6-foot, 6-inch forward normally towers above his teammates, but will have four players taller than him on the North team in 6-10 Luke Lena of Grissom and 6-8 Kaleb Suggs of Colbert Heights. Dalton Barkley of Bob Jones and Gerron Scissum of Lee are both 6-7.

“He’s playing more of a guard role sometimes (here),” said Tedford. “He’s taking on a leadership role, which I like to see. He’ll play big when the lights come on.”

While the North team has a lengthy winning streak in the basketball series, Tedford and Potts will face a tough battle against three players already committed to SEC schools on the South team.

“The South has some really talented guys,” said Tedford. “All these kids are really playing hard. If we can play hard and be unselfish, we’ll be all right. We’ll go over some plays, but when the game comes, we’ll sort of put them out of there in positions where they are comfortable. We just have to make sure they can guard and pass the ball.”

So long, soccer

Tedford made news earlier this week when he submitted his resignation as varsity girls soccer coach to the Athens City School Board of Education. In his only season as Athens girls soccer coach, Tedford helped the team reach its third consecutive 5A state championship game.

“After basketball, I’m gassed,” said Tedford about transitioning from high school basketball to football. “It’s not fair for the girls.”