The Selma Times-Journal

Junior Gabrielle Goudy poured in 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, and senior Erica Lumpkin had 27 points and 13 rebounds for Selma Thursday night.

The Lady Saints (25-6) ended Sidney Lanier’s season with a 56-37 win.

Former legendary coach of Selma High, A.A. Sewell, would be happy to know coach Anthony Harris took a page out of his notebook by swinging the ball, running some clock and hitting the open shot.

The Saints ran the offense to perfection.

Goudy hit a turnaround jumper, Keyshia Moore knocked down a trey and Latresha Witherspoon hit a layup to put Selma ahead 27-14 at the end of the first half.

Kayla Melson, who led the Poets with 21 points, woke up in the second half after scoring just one point in the first two quarters. Her layup cut the lead to six, 29-23.

Lumpkin answered with a bucket, and with 1:26 left in the third Goudy snatched down a rebound and was fouled. She hit one of her free throws to increase Selma’s lead to 33-27.

Lumpkin drew a foul on the next possession and hit both free throws for a 35-27 Selma lead.

Melson answered once again with back-to-back baskets.

On Selma’s next possession, Lumpkin hit Ashley Grimes for a backdoor layup.

Lanier’s Shewandria Meadows tried to lay the ball in, but Grimes blocked it into the backboard.

Melson, who led Lanier to its 2005 state championship and was named MVP, has never beaten the Lady Saints on their home court.

Selma will play in its fourth consecutive regional tournament beginning Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Alabama State University in Montgomery.

Moore scored nine points for Selma, and Witherspoon added six.

“I’m proud of my student-athletes,” Harris said. “All my kids carry a 3.5 grade point average, that’s including the boys’ team. Also, we got to cut down on turnovers and hit our free throws.”