Southern Wayne’s Jaylen Carr, #20, tries to find a hold through a group of Spartan defenders. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
Saints Jacobe Graham, #4, looks for open teammates during Friday night’s game. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
The Southern Wayne Saints delivered a commanding performance on their home court Friday night, defeating the visiting Smithfield-Selma Spartans 66-44. Southern Wayne’s sharp defense, fast-paced offense, and well-balanced scoring effort helped them take early control and maintain their dominance throughout all four quarters.
Smithfield-Selma struck first, though, setting the tone with a quick layup by Jeremiah Armwood. Armwood followed up with a successful free throw, putting the Spartans up 3-0. Southern Wayne answered with a steal from Douglas Wynn, but the Saints missed a 3-point attempt on their first offensive possession. The Spartans capitalized on the miss, scoring another layup to extend their lead to 5-0.
Southern Wayne, however, wasted no time responding. Wynn drove into the lane and scored on a layup to get the Saints on the board, and he stayed aggressive, hitting a jumper on the next possession to cut the deficit to 7-4.
The Saints’ defense began to heat up as they forced turnovers and converted them into points. Demetrius Elliot snagged a steal and quickly passed to Kairell Evans, who scored in transition. Jeremiah Armwood hit two free throws to extend Southern Wayne’s lead to 20-4, but the Saints regrouped and went on a scoring run that flipped the momentum.
Southern Wayne tightened up defensively and turned their intensity into fast-break opportunities. Evans led the way, hitting a series of jumpers and layups to swing the game in the Saints’ favor. Dorien Toussian joined the scoring spree, sinking a three and converting a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to 28-16.
The Spartans tried to keep pace with a three-point shot, but Southern Wayne’s defense held firm. Demetrius Elliot locked down the perimeter, and Wynn came up with another crucial steal. Toussian hit a jumper to push the score to 33-20 late in the second quarter. The Saints ended the half with a 33-22 lead, holding all the momentum heading into the break.
Smithfiled-Selma opened the third quarter with a burst of energy, hitting a quick trey to cut the lead to 35-27. Evan’s quickly responded with a three of his own, reestablishing Southern Wayne’s control. The Spartans battled back, converting a layup and a free throw to make it 38-30.
Southern Wayne refused to let the Spartans get any closer. Armwood and Elliot executed a flawless pick-and-roll play, with Armwood finishing at the rim to extend the lead. Moments later, Evan’s drained another three, bringing the crowd to its feet and giving the Saints a 49-32 advantage.
After a timeout with just under two minutes left in the quarter, Elliot delivered another key play. He knocked down a 3-pointer, giving Southern Wayne a comfortable 54-32 lead. The Saints’ defense stayed active, forcing turnovers and limiting Smithfield-Selma’s second-chance opportunities.
In the fourth quarter, Southern Wayne slowed the pace, focusing on ball control and limiting mistakes. The Spartans hit an early three and added a couple of free throws, but it was too little, too late. Southern Wayne’s balanced attack continued, with Toussian and Armwood combining for several quick baskets to maintain the double-digit lead.
Late in the game, Evan’s drove through traffic for a layup, pushing the score to 62-42. Smithfield-Selma answered with a jumper but missed a crucial free throw that could have added to their total. With 42 seconds left, Toussian added one final layup to secure the 66-44 victory for the Saints.
Southern Wayne’s victory was a testament to their discipline and teamwork. The Saints shared the ball effectively, with multiple players contributing on both ends of the floor. Evan’s led the offense with timely shooting and aggressive drives to the basket, while Elliot and Wynn anchored the defense, forcing turnovers and limiting the Spartans’ offensive rhythm.
