Escambia County Blue Devils head basketball coach Anthony Hayes arrived in Atmore just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night to meet with Escambia County High School athletic director Mark Heaton and assistant basketball coach Jerome Webster.

The trio met at the McDonald’s located on Hwy. 21 just off of I-65 to go over plans and the schedule for the Blue Devils’ trip to Birmingham for the AHSAA Final 48.

Upon returning Hayes said it’s like he never left his team.

“Honestly, it’s like I never left,” he said. “With coach Webster being here there was no difference for our team. He’s an extension of me and I’m an extension of him, so it’s no different. I feel like I’ve been here the whole time just through coach Webster. To be going where we are going is what we have been talking about since October. We are ready to go.”

The Blue Devils will play the Butler Rebels at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in Birmingham.