Selma beats Keith in double OT at Stillman
Published 8:35 pm Saturday, December 27, 2014
Michael Griffin, left, and Selma High School raced by Keith’s Jaequan Simmons, right in Saturday’s double overtime game in the Nucor Invitational at Stillman College. Griffin scored 17 points and added 12 rebounds for the Saints in the victory.–File Photo
TUSCALOOSA — Selma finished off a three-game season sweep of county rival Keith Saturday, but it took double overtime on a neutral court.
Keith found itself in foul trouble entering the second overtime and Selma (13-3) took advantage, holding the Bears to just three points in the extra session on the way to a 76-72 victory.
The game was played as part of the Nucor Invitational at Stillman College and it didn’t disappoint.
“It is very hard to beat any team three times, but to beat them three times — I walked out of my shoes tonight,” Selma head coach Woodie Jackson said. “I told the kids I really wanted to win, but I knew it was going to be tough.”
Dexter Hatcher scored 20 points — including 14 in the second quarter — but the Saints still trailed 30-27 at halftime. Selma fought back to take a 49-45 after three quarters and after missed opportunities by both teams at the end of regulation the game went into overtime tied 61-61.
Keith’s John Pettway and Jaequan Simmons fouled out in the first overtime period, leaving the Bears short on depth. Pettway led Keith was 14 points and Simmons had scored 12, as two of the four Bears in double figures.
Despite the loss, Keith (9-8) head coach Tommy Tisdale was very happy with how his team played.
“That’s the team I’ve been looking for for a while,” Tisdale said. “If we can continue to play with that intensity, at that level, I think we will be okay going into January and February.”
Tisdale, a Stillman alumnus getting to return to where he had played for the Tigers, said the tournament has been incredible.
“Everybody has been hospitable and the tournament has been first class,” Tisdale said. “The only thing I wish I could get from it is a little bit more wins.”
Michael Griffin scored 17 points and added 12 rebounds for the Saints. Aderick Moore also scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds for Selma. Quentavious Davis, who hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Keith in Orrville earlier this year, scored five of his eight points in double overtime.
Selma won the previous two meetings this year 61-60 and 59-43. Kent James had what Tisdale called one of the best performances of his career, scoring 13 points.
Selma will take on Sumter Central at 4 p.m. Monday at Stillman. Keith will battle Akron at 1 p.m. in the first game Monday.
