By Blake Deshazo
The Selma Times-Journal

Free throws were the answer for the Selma Lady Saints Friday night, as they knocked off Hillcrest 47-46 in a double overtime thriller to win the class 6A, area 6 title.

“We needed [this win],” said Selma head coach Anthony Harris. “We got a chance to be at home again Monday. I don’t like overtime, but that’s championship ball, and I think that’s what it boils down to.”

This was the second overtime loss to Selma this season for Hillcrest.

“Every time we’ve played them it has been a challenge, but we enjoy playing them. We hope to see them again hopefully in Montgomery,” said Hillcrest head coach Steven Sims.

The Saints controlled the first quarter 10-6 with big shots from sophomore Jamya Smith, but the second quarter didn’t bode well for the Lady Saints, as the Patriots switched things up on defense.

“I think the kids got kind of off track for a while,” Harris said. “I think the second quarter there was a little confusion defensively and a few little attitudes swung up, but we overcame all that.”

Hillcrest’s Demaurea Moore scored eight second-quarter points to get the Patriots back in the game and put them in position to make it a ball game. The first half ended with both teams sitting at 19 points.

The start of the third didn’t look so good for the Saints, as they came out lackadaisical, but big shots from Areyana Williams and a pair of blocks from J’Tia White put the Saints on top 28-26 to end the third.

“[Areyana] got hurt the other night and it threw her rhythm off for a little bit,” Harris said. “She was throwing [up shots] that she shouldn’t. But it is hard to get mad with her because she is going to give you 100 percent.”

Hillcrest went on a seven point run in the fourth to take a 35-30 lead, but a crucial bucket and a free throw from Williams tied the game at 35. A missed free throw from White sent the game into its first overtime. Both teams only scored two points each in the first overtime and it ended tied at 40.

Freshman Kyandra Lewis saved the game for Selma, as she added five points to the scoreboard in double overtime. With the win, Selma will host Northridge Monday in the sub-regional round of the 6A playoffs.

The Lady Saints lost in that round last season — a scenario Harris would like to avoid this year.

“We want to get back to that regional [tournament],” Harris said. “We haven’t been there in the last two years.”