By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The Southside Panthers’ boys basketball team was able to hold off a late comeback attempt at home and defeat the Wilcox Central Jaguars 75-62 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Southside head basketball coach Cedric Brown said his team played a complete game, which was the key to victory.

“We actually put together a full game,” Brown said. “We played four full quarters of good, old-fashion Southside basketball.”

The Panthers held a 52-43 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Jaguars would make a run, as Jamichael Stallworth buried a three to bring the Jaguars within six with 6:43 remaining.

The three would spark a run, as the Jaguars cut the Panthers’ lead to two at 54-52 with 4:50 left in the game.

But the Panthers would go on a run of their own, as Ladarius Acoff was fouled on a fast break and converted the shot and the free throw to put the Panthers up 57-52 with about four minutes left.

With time running out, the Jaguars were hampered by turnovers and were forced to foul.

The Panthers were clutch, as Mario Oliver went 6 for 6 from the line down the stretch, and the team as a whole went 10 for 11 from the line toward the end of the quarter.

Mark Dukes, head coach of Wilcox Central, said his team just lost to a hard working opponent, and had trouble fighting back from behind.

“Congrats to coach Brown and his team because they had a great game plan and his guys played hard,” Dukes said. “We just had a bad third quarter and it’s kind of hard to fight back from behind.”

Oliver, who went 9 for 10 from the free throw line on the night, led the Panthers with 19 points, while Acoff had 16 points and Devante Richardson added 14 points for Southside.

Freddie Smith led the Jaguars with 21 points, while DeAnthony Pettway added 16 points for Wilcox Central.