By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The Southside Panthers set the tone from the opening tipoff and would only trail twice all game, as they defeated Dallas County 60-45 on Friday, handing the Hornets their first loss of the season.

Panthers’ head coach Cedric Brown said his team played a complete game in the showdown between cross-county region foes.

“I was very happy with our team’s performance,” Brown said. “They played four quarters of Southside basketball. Everything I asked them to do, they did it. They executed to perfection. I’m proud of them.”

The Panthers (8-5, 2-0) would trail in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but soon caught fire as Sammarkus Jones stole a Hornets’ (9-1, 1-1) pass and went full court for a layup to put Southside up 5-4 with 4:44 left in the first.

Jones play would spark a 10-0 Panthers run, which included two three pointers from Jones, that put Southside up 15-4 late in the first.

Dallas County’s B.J. Leshore would snap the run with a three, but Jones would come back the next possession and bury a three of his own to put Southside up 18-7 with a minute left in the quarter.

The Panthers would take an 18-10 lead into second, and would outscore the Hornets 12-4 to take a 30-14 lead into the half.

The Hornets would trail by as much as 24 points in the second half despite outscoring the Panthers 31-30 final two quarters.

Hornets head coach Willie Moore said his team got outplayed, but they’ll be ready the next time they see the Panthers.

“They came out and shot lights out and we didn’t play together as a team,” Moore said. “We sort of got out of character tonight. I’m not going to take anything from them.

“They outplayed us tonight. They wanted a win a lot more. We’re not going to break down and cry over one game because one game don’t make a season. We’ll be prepared the next time we play them.”

Jones led the Panthers with 25 points, while Jeffery Mack added 9 points and 9 rebounds for Southside.

Anfernee Simpson led the Hornets with 12 points and Markell Harris added 10 points for Dallas County.