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“You’ve got the bacon, and brought home the ham. Next time, we want the whole hog.”

That’s what longtime Escambia County High School boys basketball coach Cornell Torrence told this year’s boys squad during an appreciation breakfast Thursday at the Atmore school.

The Blue Devils finished as the Class 4A boys runner up earlier this month, falling to Jacksonville in the state championship game in Birmingham. This was the school’s first-ever trip to the state title game.

“Congratulations to the players and cheerleaders,” Torrence said. “I’m happy y’all were able to go that far. To get as far as you got, is wonderful.”

The breakfast was held as a thank you to members and businesses in the community for their support of the team when the Blue Devils made their state run.

Each member of the boys basketball team signed basketballs to be handed out to the local supporters.

Atmore City Council, Mayor Jim Staff, Pepsi-Bottline Co. of Atmore, David’s Catfish House, Popeye’s and the Escambia County Commission were at the breakfast.

Additionally, ECHS Culinary Arts students prepared the breakfast, and the culinary room was used for the first time since the start of the pandemic.