Selma was seemingly in control from the tip Friday night against rival Southside, so when the Panthers pulled within six with five minutes to play, it was clear the home crowd got a little nervous.

JerrYone Patterson made a 3-pointer on Selma’s next possession to break Southside’s run and the Saints held on for a 52-40 win.  Panthers’ coach Lenord Jones called Patterson’s shot a “dagger.”

“That shot came from a set play we run every day,” said Selma coach Ronald Lane. “I’m just thanking the Lord the he made it. He hadn’t been shooting well at all but he’s one of those kids that come in at 6:30 every morning to put up extra shots and it paid off for him tonight.”

Most of the game, it looked like Selma might coast to an easy win. Seven Saints played scored in the first half as Selma took a 30-12 lead into the break.

Southside kept cutting away the entire second half and pulled within six with 5:27 left.

“Our goal was to sit in a zone and let the pressure be on them,” Jones said.

Terry Johnson’s steal and layup to begin the fourth quarter allowed Southside to pull within nine. After Jeffery Huff Jr. made a basket for Selma, the Panthers scored the next six points to get as close as they’d been since the first quarter.

Patterson made a 3-pointer to break the run and then came up with a steal and made a free throw.

James Anderson knocked down a jumper through contact to put the Saints up 50-37 with 2:09 remaining.

With their lead back intact, Selma was content to hold the ball for the final minute. With the outcome decided, the Panthers elected not to foul.

Lane said he was happy that his team pulled another win out, but he was disappointed in how they closed it out.

“Eight, nine, ten ballgames into it, we are still making some of the same mental mistakes and not being mentally tough like we preach,” Lane said.

Fatigue could’ve played a factor for Southside.

The Panthers lost a close area game to Montevallo Thursday and were playing their third game in five games.

Huff Jr. and James Anderson each had 8 points in the game to lead the Saints. Derrick Griffin had 10 points for Southside, including an opening 3-pointer to start the game.

Both teams will play next in the Dallas County Christmas Tournament starting Thursday.

The Panthers will play Dallas County in the first round, while Selma will play Keith.