By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The 2A Area 2 Central High Lions celebrated senior night Friday with a clean sweep of Southside Selma at home.
The 6-0 area champion varsity boys improved to 19-3 overall with a 51-50 win over Southside that went down to the wire.
“We are just so appreciative of the seniors we have had for these past four years,” said head basketball coach Toriano Baker. “They’ve grown tremendously. They are deserving to have a great season, and that’s what we’re having so far.”
Baker said, “Our goal is still ahead of us. We’re trying to make it to Birmingham and do a good job up there. But with the seniors that we have, I think we have a good shot.”
He went on to say, “We’ve just got to keep working hard because that’s been our Achilles’ heel all season.”
He called the game with Southside “very competitive with a great atmosphere.”
As they came down the stretch, the score was tied at 40, 43 and 47 each with the Lions clinging to a 51-47 lead until there was 1.3 seconds left in the game. Southside’s Devante Richardson hit a 3-pointer to make the final Central 51, Southside 50.
Jeffery Mack led Southside with 9 points.
Leading the way for Central were senior guard Perry Rudolph with 10 points and senior center Wendell Snow with 13 points.
The 6-0 area champion Central girls also squeaked out a 59-57 win over Southside.
The Central girls were led by senior Erica Martin with 24 points and sophomore Kendreuna McPherson with 16.
And the junior varsity Lions under the direction of head basketball coach James Bibb downed Southside 48-21.
Leading the Lions was junior Marcus Wright with 12 points.
Senior varsity boys honored Friday night included guard Rafael Mickle, guard Rudolph, center Snow and forward J.C. Doss. Not present was senior forward Tony Martin. Senior girls honored included senior guard Erica Martin and senior cheerleader Jessica Patterson.