Southeast Lauderdale coach Centel Truman, right, looks on during a Tigers’ game earlier this season. Truman led the Tigers to Jackson for the state tournament last year.

Southeast Lauderdale coach Centel Truman remembers his 2010 visit to Jackson for the state basketball tournament well. Although it occurred seven years ago when he was an assistant at Northeast Lauderdale, time hasn’t diminished Truman’s memory or his excitement.

Five seasons after inheriting his own team, Truman’s Tigers were able to help their coach return to Jackson earlier this year, as Southeast Lauderdale made their first appearance in the state tournament in years.

Last year, Truman and the Tigers were just happy to make it. This year, they expect to go even further. And judging by his team’s ambition thus far, Truman is a believer.

“I really believe it’s making my job a lot easier to coach this year because of the fact they finally saw it,” Truman said. “I always believe it takes a minute to truly embrace being in that position — being in the Coliseum, seeing the atmosphere, handling the atmosphere. And now this year, practices are going a lot smoother — it’s kind of scary. They’re a lot more motivated; a lot more focused.”

Joe Watson leads Southeast Lauderdale (3-4) in scoring with 12.6 points per game, and Daiquan Scott is just behind with 12.2 points per game. The Tigers return to action Thursday at Kemper County in the Sam Dale tournament. 

Truman played at Northeast Lauderdale before accepting basketball scholarships at East Mississippi Community College and the University of West Alabama. 

While Southeast Lauderdale’s girls’ teams have been dominant historically, their male counterparts haven’t faired as well. Truman, who hopes yearly trips to Jackson become the norm, said he can’t take sole credit for the turnaround.

“First, (it was) God who sent me there and put me there at the right season, and the right time — I really believe that,” Truman said. “Second, I have been blessed with a group of kids that have bought into my system, that have bought into first playing defense and being a family. We take pride in being in a family, being brothers and doing the little things to be successful.”

Truman also acknowledged his assistant coaches’ — Donna Sprabery and Jeremy Walk — roles in making Southeast Lauderdale a contender.

“(Donna Sprabery) does a great job of helping me with the kids and making sure that they’re getting their (school) work and getting their grades up to par…,” Truman said. “And because of the efforts she has helped me with, all my kids have graduated, and that’s one thing that helped contribute to me getting the Golden Apple Award last year. Jeremy Walk has helped me tremendously with balancing ideas, and supplying me with great ideas.” 

With a number of his players having been members of Southeast Lauderdale’s football team, injuries have prevented Truman from fielding his optimal roster. However, he expects the Tigers to be at full strength in time for district play as they attempt to make back-to-back appearances in Jackson.

“Right now, we’re trying to get healthy,” Truman said. “This year is a little different from last year. We’ve had so many football players that are on the roster, and they’ve been nicked up from the football season, and some of them are carrying over to the basketball season.”