Selma High and Southside will close their regular season basketball series on Friday night at Panther Arena.

The girls’ game will tipoff between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., followed by the boys’ clash.

Game one of the Queen City rivalry went to the Saints 52-38 at Selma High’s Gymnasium on Dec. 14, 2018.

The Panthers’ lineup has changed since that contest, losing three senior starters around the Christmas holidays.

Selma coach Ronald Lane said the lineups and records can be tossed out whenever the city’s two biggest rivals clash.

“We expect a competitive game and a good atmosphere from our neighbors,” Lane said. “Southside has a strong group of young players who are solid now and should be in the near future. Friday’s contest should provide indicators on where we are now and what we can accomplish.”

Southside coach Lenord Jones said the Panthers-Saints showdown always unites the city.

“It’s a big rivalry game with two communities coming together to have fun,” Jones said. “My young team is basically new, but we’re looking forward to a competitive game. We both want to give the fans their money’s worth.”

“The Selma-Southside game is symbolic to the community coming together,” Lane said.

Jones and Lane were basketball teammates at Selma High in 1982. They’ve remained friends and often support each other.

“Selma is coached by a great guy and my friend, Ronald Lane, who uses the same old-school style with discipline and no excuses,” Jones said.

“Whenever Selma and Southside aren’t playing against each other, we’re always pulling for each other,” Lane said. “Coach Jones and I talk on a constant basis.”

Selma and Southside girls meet for the third time this season. The Lady Saints won the first two, 56-38 (Dec. 14, 2018) and 54-40 in the Dallas County Schools Tournament Finals (Dec. 22, 2018).

Here are the other Friday games: Dallas County at Sumter Central; Fort Dale at Morgan Academy; Billingsley at Ellwood Christian Academy, Keith at Marengo and Edgewood at Meadowview Christian School.