TUSCALOOSA – J.O. Johnson scored the first six points of the game Friday night and went on to beat the Selma High School Lady Saints, 65-44, in the second round of the Hillcrest High School Pepsi Challenge.

The Lady Saints (2-1) rallied to tie the game at 25 just before halftime on a six-point second quarter by freshman Gabrielle Goudy. Selma took a brief 28-25 lead in the third period on a three-point basket by Erica Lumpkin. The sophomore led the Lady Saints with 21 points and six rebounds.

But J.O. Johnson, returning four starters from last season, went ahead by 10 at the end of the third period.

The J.O. Johnson front court took over in the fourth period and the Lady Saints found themselves trailing by as much as 17 points in the quarter.

Goudy finished with nine points and 12 rebounds, while Santana Seay added eight points and 11 rebounds.

After J.O. Johnson opened a 6-0 lead, Seay scored seven of her eight points to bring the Lady Saints to within three, 13-10, after the first period.

In Thursday night’s game, the Lady Saints had four players score in double figures as Selma went on to a 69-63 win over the Tuscaloosa County Lady Wildcats.

Seay led all scorers with 18 points, including eight in the first quarter. She added eight rebounds and four assists.

Lumpkin dropped in 15 points and collected nine rebounds. Shemeka Simpson finished with 14 points, followed by Ashley Green with 12 points and five assists.

Selma led after the first period, 19-14, and went up by nine at halftime, 32-23.

Lumpkin hit a pair of three-pointers in the third period. But the Lady Wildcats would not go away, scoring in the paint three straight possessions to cut into the Lady Saints’ lead.

Simpson heated up on the offensive side and Selma took control after the third period, 51-40.

Tuscaloosa County came back in the fourth period with a pair of put-backs, but could get no closer as the Lady Saints held on for the victory.

Amina Wofford had four points for Selma, while Goudy had four points and four rebounds. Erica Culpepper chipped in two points for Selma.

Selma will be in action again Wednesday at Dallas County. The boys’ junior varsity game will tip off at 5 p.m., followed by the girls’ and boys’ varsity tilts.