Times-Journal Sports Writer

After a shaky couple of weeks, it appears that the Selma High School Lady Saints are back.

The Lady Saints remained the state’s eighth-best Class 6A girls’ team in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association high school basketball poll.

Selma had spent two weeks tied for 10th with Decatur in the Class 6A poll. But a recent winning streak moved the Lady Saints up to eighth spot last week, where they remained this week after splitting their past two games.

Meanwhile, the Southside High School Panthers are still the state’s top team in Class 4A despite two recent losses.

The Panthers (20-2) are coming off a victory Tuesday night over Trinity, and could clinch the Class 4A, Area 4 title tonight with a win at home against St. James.

The Panthers remained atop the Class 4A poll despite their second consecutive loss on Saturday night last week, a 62-61 defeat at the hands of Wilcox Central.

The Francis Marion Lady Rams (13-4) held on to the 10th spot in Class 3A this week.

The R.C. Hatch girls and boys also held on to their top rankings in Class 2A.

Both teams turned in dominating performances Wednesday night against Class 3A Greensboro East.

The Lady Bobcats (19-1) won 64-54 despite the absence of starting forward Janita Essex due to illness, and several others playing despite also being ill.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats (18-2) coasted to an 84-60 win over the Raiders to stay on top of the Class 2A boys’ poll.

The Meadowview Christian School Lady Trojans remained ninth in this week’s AISA poll. The Lady Trojans’ victory Tuesday night over Taylor Road sewed up the East 2A Area title.

Meadowview Christian will host its area tournament beginning Feb. 4.

The Marion Military Institute Tigers move up two spots in the boys’ AISA poll to the fifth spot. The Tigers currently are 17-1 on the season.

The Central Christian Academy Warriors moved up one spot to ninth this week. The Warriors (17-2) remained unbeaten in the area Tuesday with a 57-40 win over Shelby Academy.

The MMI Lady Tigers (15-3) are sixth, one spot ahead of the Morgan Academy Lady Senators.