Saint boys lose, 50-34

By Melakikki Edwards

The Selma Times-Journal

The Selma High Lady Saints won over the Lanier High School Poets on Tuesday night, 57-51.

The Saints now hold a 5-3 record.

“We were without Erica Lumpkin tonight but the rest of the team really stepped up in her place.” said Saints Coach Anthony Harris.

“We played good defense and we were able to hold Kayla Melson down, not stop her, but hold her down.”

It was a very physical game throughout the four periods.

During the first and second periods the Saints and the Poets played tug-a-war with the lead.

At the end of the first the Saints were down by one, 8-9.

They took the lead back in the second and at halftime they were up 26-22.

The Poets went on an 8-0 run to start the third and Melson put the Poets back on top.

With just over two minutes left to play in the third Kesha Moore hit a three pointer to give the lead back to the Saints.

They were ahead going into the fourth 36-32.

The Saints didn’t give up the lead in the fourth and came out on top.

“It was a good team effort from everyone.

If we keep playing the way we did tonight we will be alright,” said Coach Harris.

Kesha Moore led the Saints with 17 points and 2 rebounds.

Ashley Grimes followed with 11 points and 2 rebounds.

Kamesha Strong added 10 points.

The Saints will face Jeff Davis, the defending state champions, on the road on Friday.

saints 34, poets 50

The Selma High School boy’s basketball ball team fell to the Lanier High School Poets on Tuesday night, 30-54.

“My team played really bad and that’s all I have to say,” said Saints Coach Willie Maxey.

The Saints never got their momentum going in the game.

The Poets jumped out ahead of the Saints in the first and never looked back.

At the end of the first period the Saints were down 9-13.

The most exciting part of the game was a block on the Poets’ Marquise Glace from Deundra Benjamin in the second period.

The Poets, however, went on a 9-0 run after that and the Saints were down 15-29 at the half.

The Poets played man-to-man defense on the Saints and outscored them 11-7 in the third period.

They took their biggest lead of the night at twenty with 3:09 left to play in the third.

The fourth was no better for the Saints.

They were unable to cut into the Poets lead and lost by twenty-four points.

Adream Dukes led the Saints with 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Deundra Benjamin added 6 points and 1 rebound.

Marquise Glace led the Poets with 16 points and D.J. Brown added 11 points and 4 rebounds.

The Saints will face Jeff Davis on the road on Friday.