Selma jumped on No. 3 R.C. Hatch early, and rode the momentum to a one-sided 67-42 win in the Wilcox Central Holiday Tournament on Friday.

“The guys just really didn’t come to play,” said R.C. Hatch coach Homer Davis. “The players wanted to play, but their minds just weren’t there. This is the worst game I’ve seen R.C. Hatch play.”

In a contest eagerly anticipated by most of the capacity crowd on hand, Selma’s win seemed too easy. The first quarter was tightly contested, and the Saints (11-5) entered the second frame with a 13-8 lead.

But Selma took over in the second quarter with a 13-2 run sparked by poor Bobcat shooting and turnovers to extend the lead to 26-10. The Saints garnered a late 7-0 run to take a 35-18 lead into halftime.

“Hatch is Hatch. They always have an outstanding program,” said Selma coach Woodie Jackson. “We were just kind of blessed tonight to jump on them early.”

A 9-2 run highlighted by three Wendell Lewis dunks pushed Selma’s lead to 49-26 in the third quarter. The Saints poured it on with an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to make it 65-36.

For many coaches, a 25-point win against a team that has won the Class 2A state title five of the last six years would not warrant criticism. Though pleased with the win, Jackson quickly turned his focus to areas for improvement.

“We still played a little sloppy,” said Jackson. “We played fair defense.”

Five Selma players finished in double figures. Lewis led the way with 17 points. Justin Ravizee added 15, Tedric Owens finished with 12 , DeAngelo Norris chipped in 11 and Duprie Rivers contributed 10.

Trence Askew led the Bobcats (8-6) with 10 points and Leanthony Smith added eight.