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Selma High maintained control of its basketball rivalry against Southside, with the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams defeating the Panthers Jan. 11.

Jamiria Jackson scored 14 points as the Lady Saints prevailed 44-14 on Thursday night at Selma High Gymnasium. Selma High, ranked sixth in Class 5A girls, improved to 16-0. Southside, ranked seventh in 3A girls, fell to 11-4.

In the boys game, Selma overcame a double-digit deficit for a 51-38 victory., completing the sweep.

Selma girls 44, Southside 14: The Lady Saints (16-0) jumped out to a 12-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. Jy’Kierra Oliver added 11 points for Selma.

Selma girls coach Willie Morgan said the fast start was needed for the Lady Saints against Southside.

“We’ve been slow starting,” Morgan said. “We were looking to start the game fast against Southside. We usually get started in the third quarter. We can’t be doing that against good teams. We need to four quarters.”

Southside missed its first 10 shots and did not score until Shamaya Allison scored two minutes into the second quarter. The Lady Panther got within 17-7, but the Lady Saints reeled off eight straight points for a 20-7 halftime lead.

Allison led the Lady Panthers  with 11 points. Southside played without one of its best players, LaTerika Edwards, who is injured.

Selma 51, Southside 38: The Saints (11-3) fell behind 16-4 to start the game, but turned things around in the second quarter. Southside led 16-9 after one quarter. Selma outscored the Panthers 12-1 in the second quarter to grab a 20-17 halftime lead.

Todd Young led the Saints with 11 points and ignited their comeback win. 

Selma coach Daron Rembert said he knew that the Saints would overcome the deficit against the Panthers.

“The second quarter run was huge,” Rembert said. “We knew that Southside would come trying to win. We weathered the storm and I believed that we would come back. We were the better team.”

The momentum continued for Selma in the second half. The Saints outscored Southside 16-11 in the third quarter, taking a 36-28 lead into the game’s final eight minutes. Southside never got closer in the fourth quarter, as Selma held on. 

MJ Reese led Southside with 14 points.