ROGERSVILLE&045;The Selma Saints girls extended their winning streak to 16-0 Monday night with a 59-56 win over Hazelgreen in the Northwest Alabama Girls Christmas Tournament.

Coach Anthony Harris and his second-ranked girls faced their toughest challenge of the season.

Hazelgreen jumped on the Saints from the start.

Hazelgreen shot 80 percent from the field in the first quarter alone.

At the end of a quarter, the Saints trailed 21-8.

In the second quarter, the quarterback Shameka Simpson began running th show. However, the night belonged to fabulous freshman Erica Lumpkin.

She came off the bench to score 8 first-half points.

After their slow start, the Saints turned up the heat.

By the half, they’d cut the lead to 25-22.

In the second half, Hazelgreen matched Selma basket for basket, but the Saints wouldn’t back down either.

Harris then unleashed Ms.Defense, Tyease Jones on the Hazelgreen cagers.

Jones locked down on Hazelgreen’s top guard.

Post Kim Wilson cut the lead to 4 with 2:09 left in the game.

Lumpkin knocked down a three from just inside the parking lot.

The Saints then hammered the nails into the coffin.

Lumpkin finished with 18 point and 12 rebounds.

Wilson had 16 points and 11 boards.

Simpson had 12 points.

Santana Seay added 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Martina West had 4 rebounds.

The Lady Saints improved to 16-0 on the season and advanced to play in the tournament championship Tuesday night.

Editor’s note: Check out the Thursday edition of the STJ for title game results.