MONTGOMERY — Selma High School’s girls basketball team fell just short of Birmingham.

The Saints lost to area rival Carver High School 58-49 in the AHSAA class AAAAA central regional final.

“We had a good year,” said Selma coach Anthony Harris. “I’m pleased with them.”

Selma and Carver went bucket for bucket, seemingly the entire game, but Carver pulled away at the end to move on to Birmingham and the class AAAAA Final Four.

“My hat’s off to Carver” said Harris. “(Carver) Coach Yvonne Simmons and I have had some good years.”

Selma started seemingly tentative in the first quarter.

After winning the tip, the Saints missed a few easy buckets and Carver quickly turned Selma misses into buckets.

Carver’s Kaysha Murry would take off down the floor on a Selma miss and scored seven easy points.

Carver would hold a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“We worked on that yesterday,” said Harris. “We knew they would take off after a miss.”

In the second quarter Selma settled into the rhythm of the game.

They made the Wolverines play a half court game, which Carver struggled with and the Saints came back to within one at the half.

Selma fought in the third quarter to pull ahead, but an Alondra Gray basket brought the Wolverines level going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter foul trouble for the Saints would prove to be the difference.

“We lost one of our guards,” Harris said. “Losing her didn’t help us keep the ball.”

Keisha Moore, who received all tournament team honors for Selma, led all scorers with 28 points before fouling out with time running out.

This loss ends the Saints season.

“I love them and they know that,” said Harris. “But now we are going to work and work to get better.”