By Alaina Denean
The Selma Times-Journal

ORRVILLE — Quentavious Davis hit a buzzer beating three-pointer, as Selma stunned Keith 61-60 Friday night in a tight battle between the county rivals.

The Bears led seemingly the entire way, but the Saints wouldn’t go away. Davis’ game winning three capped a wild comeback and gave Selma a victory to open its season.

“It’s a great team win, and that’s what we needed,” Selma head coach Woodie Jackson said. “It’s great. It’s great for the kids. We’ve been working hard.”

Selma started off slow, trying to keep up with Keith throughout the game, but wouldn’t gain the lead until when it really mattered.

“We dug the hole for ourselves, but the key is we came out on top,” Jackson said.

It was a heart breaker for Keith, who had the opportunity to secure the game in the last minute, but couldn’t capitalize on free throws.

It was all the missed free throws, including a couple of key ones down the stretch that had Keith head coach Tommy Tisdale wondering what might have been.

“We just couldn’t make free throws down the stretch … I know we missed two crucial ones,” Tisdale said. “We left opportunities on the floor.”

Davis led the Saints with 17 points, but seven players scored in all for the Saints. Dexter Hatcher added 16, but 14 of those came in the first half.

“[My] hats off to Selma, they played hard from start to finish like I knew they would,” Tisdale said.

John Pettway scored 22 points to lead the Bears and Jaquan Simmons added 15.

Selma’s next game will be at home against Sidney Lanier Nov. 18, while Keith will travel to take on R.C. Hatch.

Keith 62, Selma 48 (Girls)

Keith’s Lady Bears started their season with a 62-48 victory over rival Selma Friday night.

Bears’ guard Harriet Winchester led the way with 20 points before being taken to the locker room with leg cramps in the second half.

“[To win the] first game of the season against a rival is real good,” Keith head coach Cecil Williams said. “[We got to] see where we measure up as far as playing wise.”

Zykia Pettway scored 14 points for the Lady Bears, who led the game throughout.

“To get this first win, and we’re barely in shape, I’m very proud of them,” Williams said.

“I knew that Selma High was going to come in top condition and running.”

Selma struggled throughout the game on both sides of the ball, scoring only 20 points in the first half. Turnovers were the key, as Selma struggled to keep possession.

“We didn’t come to play,” said Anthony Harris, Selma head coach. “That really hurt us too, the turnovers.”

“My hats off to Keith. Keith got a good team, and they did what they had to do to win,” Harris said.

The Lady Saints will look to bounce back at home against Sidney Lanier Nov. 18.

Times-Journal reporter Daniel Evans contributed to this story.