The Selma Times-Journal

Sidney Lanier picked the right time to turn its game up a notch Friday night.

Down by seven late in the third quarter, the Poets jumped on Selma then held tight the rest of the way to take a 57-48 in the final game of the Selma Invitational Tournament.

Deundre Benjamin scored back-to-back layups to give the Saints a 38-31 lead with two minutes, 51 seconds left in the third.

Lanier promptly went on a 16-2 run that lasted nearly two minutes into the fourth. D.J. Brown and tournament MVP Jadarren Mumphilll hit consecutive 3-point shots to open the final quarter and extend the Poets’ lead to 47-40.

A 14-foot jumper from Selma guard Jakobe Shannon stopped the bleeding, but only momentarily.

Lanier then scored five more unanswered points to go ahead 52-42 with 5:02 to play. It was the biggest lead of the game for either team.

Turnovers and a halfcourt offense that sputtered prevented the Saints from getting back into the game, despite the ample amount of time on the clock. Selma scored just one basket from the field in the final five minutes. Their final four points came on a pair of trips to the free throw line from Shannon, who scored eight points in the game.

Benjamin and Cameron Turner both scored 14 points to lead Selma, and Benjamin also pulled in eight rebounds.

Mumphill led Lanier with 14.

The Poets hit eight 3-pointers on the night. Their late-game dominance was a complete turnaround from the way the contest began.

There were seven lead changes in the first quarter and eight total in the half.

Wendell Young hit a layup that put Selma on top 16-15 with 7:38 left in the second. The shot sparked a 9-1 run, and Selma held on for a 28-25 lead at the half.

Mumphill and Ladarius Rob both hit outside shots as part of a 10-2 run that allowed Lanier to take a 41-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

Of the Saints’ eight points in the fourth, four of them came from the free throw line.