The Panther Press proved to be the crushing blow Thursday night, as Southside High School won the Selma High Invitational with a 71-61 victory over the Saints.

The Panthers (14-0) beat Selma for the second time this season, thanks in part to a dominating pressure defense that forced the Saints into hurried passes and shots.

The Saints (5-5) were in the game for a brief moment in the first quarter, when Eric Martinear’s offensive rebound and lay-in made it a 2-2 game.

But Southside went on a 7-0 run and never trailed again.

The Panthers built a 16-8 lead after the first period, but that margin ballooned to 15 before halftime.

After a pair of free throws by Fontano Watters gave the Panthers a 33-23 cushion, Deonta Williams stole the ball from Selma guard John Dailey. The theft ended in a Williams slam-dunk to make it a 35-23 lead.

Junior guard Malcolm Hosea followed that with a three-pointer from the left wing that upped the margin to 38-23. Southside owned a 40-25 halftime lead.

The Panthers continued their ruthless press for much of the second half, forcing Selma into turnovers.

After a steal by Jermarcus Hardy, Watters drained another three-pointer from the left wing that gave Southside a 47-27 edge.

Jeffery Anderson followed his own miss with a monstrous dunk that made it 51-29. Anderson led the Panthers with 17 points. Hardy, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, added 15 points.

The only fault Southside coach Velton Robinson found with his team’s play was Selma’s ability to get back in the game off missed Panthers’ lay-ups and turnovers. Trailing by as much as 61-35 to open the fourth quarter, Selma slowly cut into the deficit.

The Saints made it a 10-point game on Robert Childers’ putback with 41 seconds to go, but got no closer.

“What got them back in the game was we turned the ball over and made crazy decisions,” Robinson said. “We didn’t run our press after they called a timeout. I’m happy for the win.”