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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

When the Callaway Cavaliers play their home finale on Friday against Lamar County, sharp-shooting junior guard Demetrius Coleman will have a different number than usual.

Coleman, who usually wears the number one, will be wearing the number 24 jersey in honor of one of his favorite players, Kobe Bryant, who sadly died in a helicopter accident last weekend.

Coleman first wore the number 24 during Wednesday’s 66-65 victory over Valley, and he had 10 consecutive points during one second-quarter stretch.

“Kobe was my favorite,” Coleman said. “It was the Lakers and Kobe.”

The Cavaliers were pushed to the limit by the Rams, but they survived for a one-point victory.

“(The Valley game) gives us a chance to see what it’ll be like when we get to state,” Coleman said.

Callaway (12-6 overall) can wrap up the number two spot in the Region 5-AA tournament with a victory over Lamar County.

Finishing second is big since the top two seeds in the region tournament have first-round byes, meaning they won’t play until the semifinals.

Spencer is 11-0 in the region and will be the number one seed, and Callaway (8-3) and Temple (8-4) are fighting it out for second.

Temple wrapped up its region schedule with a win over Heard County on Tuesday.

Callaway’s regular-season finale is against a Lamar County team that has had a tough season.

The Trojans (4-17 overall) are in sixth place in the region with a 3-8 record.

The Cavaliers have won eight of their past 10 games overall, and they’re 6-1 in their past seven region games.

“I like where the team is,” Hayes said. “Hopefully we’ll finish strong.”

REGION 5-AA STANDINGS

Overall record first followed by region record

Spencer                    18-3, 11-0

Callaway                  12-6, 8-3

Temple                      16-9, 8-4

Jordan                     10-14, 5-8

Heard County          6-17, 4-7

Lamar County        4-17, 3-8

Bremen                    1-21, 1-10