The Selma Times-Journal

Willie Cooper scored 23 points, and Fontano “Neko” Watters had 17 and eight rebounds as No. 1 Southside beat Trinity 67-50 Tuesday night.

Cooper scored 15 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers, to take the Panthers to a 16-13 lead after the first quarter.

Trinity’s Marquel Darrington, who led his team with 19, kept things close, but Watters answered with back-to-back buckets.

Jerel Peoples (eight points, eight rebounds) responded with a layup and found Rickey Moore for a 25-footer, and the Panthers led 32-23 at halftime.

With 5:54 left in the third, Southside (14-2) went on to spread its offense with Courvoisea Fails running things to perfection.

At the 2:15 mark, Marcus Cleveland ran the baseline for the lay-in, and the Panthers led 47-36.

Trinity’s Zack Shaw scored 13 points in the second half.

Coach Matthew Williams and the Southside Lady Panthers defeated Trinity 40-24.

With 3:37 left in the third, the Lady Panthers went on a 6-0 run and led 29-19.

Kierra Miles scored 16 points, Kelsey Brown had nine points and 12 rebounds and Shenequa Williams scored seven points for Southside.

Late in the second half, Miles hit two 3s, but Trinity’s Laura Water (six points) scored on a running layup.

Janet Johnson went coast-to-coast for an easy layup, and the Panthers won their third area game to remain in second place.