MONTGOMERY — Charles Eaton scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lift Selma High School to a 57-45 win over Talladega in the 5A Central Regional Tournament at Alabama State University on Wednesday.

Eaton, whose points and rebounds were both a game-high, powered the Saints on both ends of the floor, including a dunk in the second quarter that energized the crowd and helps Selma build some momentum entering halftime.

“He played a real good game,” Selma coach Woodie Jackson said. “Also Malcolm Riley stepped up. We were expecting a little more out of Dupree Rivers because he started last year. He was the one we had returning.”

The Saints got off to a slow start and trailed for much of the first half, thanks to a 12-3 run by Talladega.

Jackson said he thought nerves had a lot to do with the slow start.

“We got a couple of turnovers and just gave the ball to them,” Jackson said. “We’ve played in some big tournaments, but being the first time here I thought we were OK. You want them to play perfect, but we did OK.”

Riley added 17 points for Selma, and Kerry Mitchell scored 13.

The Saints mounted an 8-2 run to start the second half to take a short-lived 34-32 lead.

But it wasn’t until a 12-2 run late in the quarter that the Saints had some breathing room.

“We calmed them down a little bit,” Jackson said. “We played with a little more control. We held them accountable for they were supposed to be.”

Selma will face Carver-Montgomery, who defeated Valley 70-47, Friday at 3 p.m.

Carver’s only loss this season is to the Saints, though they also have two wins over the Saints this year.

In other boys action Wednesday, Central Christian Academy lost, 52-33.