Dallas County closed on a 13-3 run to put away Ellwood Christian 65-52 in a battle of county rivals. LaDarius Furlow led the way for the Hornets, nearly notching a double-double, and played what head coach Willie Moore called his best game of the year.

“We finally got a combination of players out there that was sticking with the game plan and playing within who we are,” said Dallas County coach Willie Moore. “This is a rivalry for some of these kids because they play against one another all the time. Sometimes they try to make the game personal and that was the biggest thing we had to guard against tonight.”

Furlow had 9 points but did most of his damage in the first half. Josh Benford had two dunks, including one in the final minutes that put the finishing touch on the win.

“The guys that played well for us tonight, those are the guys who practiced well for us all week long,” Moore said.

Ellwood’s five game winning streak came to an end with the loss. The Eagles (5-5), ranked No. 10 in class 1A, were missing one of their top scorers in the game, but head coach Darrell Walker was making no excuses.

“I’m so proud of my guys for coming out and playing hard under our circumstances,” Walker said. “We were a couple men short, but our goal this week and the last few days was next man up.”

Dallas County went on a 12-2 run in the second quarter to seize control and led the rest of the game. Mario Simmons and Octavious Palmer made back to back 3-pointers to spark the run. Palmer, a freshman, later kept the run going with a fastbreak dunk, extending the Hornets’ lead to 28-16.

Ellwood rallied back with two 3-pointers by Markeis McMillian but still trailed 30-22 at the half.

The Hornets actually led the entire second half, but Ellwood kept it close. Two free throws by McMillian pulled the Eagles within 37-36, but Mario Simmons beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer as the third quarter came to a close to put the Hornets up four.

Simmons started the third quarter with another three, giving Dallas County a seven-point lead. The Eagles battled back to within three after Justin Bufford made four consecutive free throws, but Dallas County closed the game with a flurry.

Andre Hall made two free throws, Palmer knocked in a layup and Benford made a shot to quickly put the Hornets back up nine.

Dallas County will play at Billingsley Jan. 5, while Ellwood Christian will host Marengo the same night.
Dallas County 52, Ellwood Christian 20 (Girls)

Dallas County’s Jamerah Smith scored 10 points as Dallas County (3-7) topped Ellwood Christian 52-20 Friday night.

Ebony Simmons chipped in 9 points for the Hornets and Jamila Parker had 8. Domeria Pratt scored 6 points to lead Ellwood Christian.
Selma 62, Boyd Anderson (Fla.) 50 (Girls)

Aaliyah Hatcher scored 15 points as Selma (15-1) defeated Boyd Anderson (Fla.) 62-50 to win the Dwight Madison Classic at Carver-Montgomery.

Areyana Williams also had 15 points for the Saints. Kynadra Lewis chipped in 11 points and Jamya Smith had 8.
Selma 68, Carver 38 (Girls)

Jacquetta Dailey led four Selma players in double figures as Selma rolled past Carver 68-38 in the semifinals of the Dwight Madison Classic Friday morning. Kynadra Lewis had 17 points, Jamya Smith had 12 and Areyana Williams 10.
Central Hayneville 77, Selma 71 (Boys)

Jeffery Huff Jr. scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half, but Central Hayneville pulled away from Selma 77-71 Thursday in the consolation round of the Dwight Madison Classic at Carver-Montgomery. Tommie Moore also had 13 points and James Anderson had 11.
Boyd Anderson (Fla.) 58, Selma 54 (Boys)

Selma High overcame a late nine-point deficit, but still ended up falling to Boyd Anderson High School from Fort Lauderdale, Florida 58-54. Selma led 43-42 after Jeffery Huff Jr. drained a 3-pointer with just under four minutes to go, but Boyd Anderson regained the lead and held on from there. Huff led Selma with 20 points and Ja’Darius Whitlock had 10 points and eight rebounds.