MOSS POINT – Poplarville native Tony Woody was recently named as the head basketball coach at Moss Point High.

That means that the Poplarville High graduate will face his alma mater at one point, as the Tigers and Hornets are foes in Region 8-4A.

Woody comes to Moss Point after spending last season as an assistant at Harrison Central. Prior to that, the Poplarville native spent 19 years at Columbia, including nine as both boys and girls head coach.

“All I can say is I’m truly blessed and honored to be a head coach again,” Woody said. “I’m thankful to Moss Point for giving me that opportunity. I know they have a lot of tradition and I’m looking forward to coming in and upholding that tradition and hopefully taking it a step further.”

Woody replaces Micoe Cotton, who resigned after being suspended for much of the season for still murky disciplinary reasons. The Tigers went 18-14 and won the Region 8-4A championship.

Woody’s best team at Columbia reached the 3A state finals in 2008, falling to Aberdeen. He said he plans to bring an up-tempo style to Moss Point.

“I’m high-energy,” Woody said. “I love to press full-court and push the ball up the floor and get as many shots as we can get. I want to average 90 points per game — that’s our goal. I want to play 10 or 11 guys and just wear folks out. We want to play an exciting style of ball.”