It took just a glance at the team’s statistics sheet for Selma High boys’ coach Willie Maxey Jr. to figure out what was wrong with his Saints.

Upon studying the sheet, Maxey realized that his team was relying upon a few players to score.

That all changed Tuesday night in the Saints’ 63-38 win over the Keith High School Bears.

While Quindell Pernell was the game’s only player in double figures – he had 14 points – nearly every player on the Selma roster scored.

The Saints also employed a new 3-2 trap defense that helped them come up with several Keith turnovers in the second half as Selma broke open a competitive, physical game and coasted to the victory.

“We’re finally trying to gel as a team,” Maxey said. “I checked the statistics sheet and I realized we needed to utilize some more players. We’re becoming more familiar with what we’re doing. We played a good ball game tonight.”

Keith, on strong shooting from guard Alvin Jones and an aggressive defense that looked ready to compete with Selma, stayed close at 10-6. But Selma scored the final six points of the quarter, the last coming on Pernell’s offensive rebound and jumper from just beyond the foul line to make it 16-6.

The mini-run was just a sign of things to come, as the Saints began running the court. Pernell’s mid-court steal and running lay-up gave the Saints a 20-8 advantage. Pernell followed that with a slam-dunk over Keith’s Lewis Lee, who fouled Pernell on the play. Pernell completed the three-point play to stretch the Saints’ lead to 25-9.

The Saints continued their aggressive motion offense, with John Dailey feeding Robert Childers off the right baseline for an alley-oop and a 31-10 Selma lead. A pair of Jerel Belton jumpers from the top of the key opened Selma’s lead to 35-13 at halftime.

The Saints extended their lead in the third quarter to 39-15 before the Bears made a run to try and get back in the game. Jones dished to guard Dominic Thomas along the baseline for an easy lay-up. Ladarrious Jones followed with an aggressive driving lay-up to the basket to spark a three-point play and narrow the margin to 41-24. A Charles Jones free theow made it 41-25 with 2:11 to go in the third.

However, the Bears would not get any closer. The Saints’ new defense shut down Keith’s passing lanes, resulting in Selma steals and baskets. Pernell followed a Saints’ defensive stop with a 12-foot jumper from the right corner to make it 54-29.

After a three-pointer by Keith forward Anthony Robinson, Childers sank a free-throw and Conner Childers hit a running floater over two defenders to make it 57-32.

Maxey said Tuesday’s performance was a good start in preparing for the Saints’ holiday tournament beginning next Tuesday.

“The tournament will be a measuring stick for us,” Maxey said. “But we’re no means where we should be. We have to re-evaluate and go from there.”

Keith coach Joseph Pettaway declined comment after the game.

In junior varsity action from Tuesday, three Saints scored in double figures as Selma routed Keith, 75-21.

Selma was led by Michael Givhan and Moses Webb, each with 14 points. Adream Dukes added 10 points, followed by Algertino Brown and Michael Acoff with eight points apiece.