NATCHEZ — Team Randy Smith has won several British Masters Championships, but none of those were back-to-back until this season.

But June 8-9, a team of 10 players that included Cathedral High School girls basketball coach Randy Smith and Vidalia High School boys basketball coach Robert Sanders, pulled off a repeat championship. Smith’s team defeated Strathclyde 58-44 to nab the 50s division title.

“We always win it, then lose (the next year),” Smith said. “We were able to shoot well — any five we had on the floor could score, so they couldn’t just guard two or three people.”

The British Masters is an annual basketball tournament played in Europe each summer by men in their 40s and older and women older than 35. This year’s tournament was hosted in Dundee, Ireland, and Smith’s squad stayed in Ireland June 1-10, practicing and playing in exhibition games leading up to the tournament.

Sanders, who played for the first time last year, said it was nice not having gone home disappointed either time he’s played.

“It felt great,” Sanders said. “We all enjoyed it. Someone asked how the British felt about an American team winning the British Masters, but they took it in stride. They were friendly before and after we won.”

Though Smith’s team was used to facing the Irish in the championship round the past couple of years, Smith said the Irish got eliminated in the early rounds, and it felt strange not going up against them for the 50s division title.

“It was disappointing for them,” Smith said.

NATCHEZ — Team Randy Smith has won several British Masters Championships, but none of those were back-to-back until this season.

But June 8-9, a team of 10 players that included Cathedral High School girls basketball coach Randy Smith and Vidalia High School boys basketball coach Robert Sanders, pulled off a repeat championship. Smith’s team defeated Strathclyde 58-44 to nab the 50s division title.

“We always win it, then lose (the next year),” Smith said. “We were able to shoot well — any five we had on the floor could score, so they couldn’t just guard two or three people.”

The British Masters is an annual basketball tournament played in Europe each summer by men in their 40s and older and women older than 35. This year’s tournament was hosted in Dundee, Ireland, and Smith’s squad stayed in Ireland June 1-10, practicing and playing in exhibition games leading up to the tournament.

Sanders, who played for the first time last year, said it was nice not having gone home disappointed either time he’s played.

“It felt great,” Sanders said. “We all enjoyed it. Someone asked how the British felt about an American team winning the British Masters, but they took it in stride. They were friendly before and after we won.”

Though Smith’s team was used to facing the Irish in the championship round the past couple of years, Smith said the Irish got eliminated in the early rounds, and it felt strange not going up against them for the 50s division title.

“It was disappointing for them,” Smith said.