Durham leads MAIS All-Star team to victory

After going 7-4 in his first season at Marshall Academy, head coach Ben Durham was tagged leader of the Blue squad in the 2022 MAIS All-Star game for classes 4A-5A-6A, held in Jackson Friday, Dec. 2. The game featured two of Marshall Academy’s top players, Hayes Henry and Omarion Tipler, along with other premiere MAIS athletes from around the state of Mississippi.

Coach Ben Durham was named “The South Reporter” 2022 Coach of the Year. He led Marshall to the biggest turnaround season, winning their last seven of eight games to close the regular season.

“It was a tremendous honor to get to be the head coach (of the Blue squad). I was extremely proud of how our kids represented our school. I thought they both competed really well at the highest level our league has to offer,” Durham said.

Durham was honored to be selected to coach such fine athletes.

“I got selected to be the head coach of the Blue squad. We started evaluating players and then drafting them,” Durham said.

Along with Durham, Marshall’s Tipler and Henry both represented Marshall well in the contest.

Durham’s squad won 13-7 after a highly competitive game.

“We won 13- 7. Omarion played left tackle vs some extremely talented players. He definitely competed. Hayes plays showed his versatility by playing both wide receiver and outside linebacker,” Durham said. “He got a catch for 13 yards.”

“Honestly, it was so much fun,” Durham said.