WENDELL — Smithfield-Selma girls basketball coach William Sanders likes the improvement he sees in his team. And the wins aren’t so bad, either.

Smithfield-Selma used an efficient offensive attack and switching defense to improve to 5-1 on Friday night with a 57-43 nonconference victory at Corinth Holders.

“We’re working hard at it,” Sanders said. “As long as I see improvement, I am satisfied, win or lose.

“If they have an open shot, I want them to take it. And we have been working on passing the ball inside.”

The Spartans took that advice to heart, hitting open jump shots, penetrating for baskets and working the ball inside as well.

Smithfield-Selma got double-figure scoring from four players, three of them senior starters – Niasha Theet (17 points), Sabrina Shepherd (14) and Breanna Chappell (12). Sophomore Diamond Blackston also had 12 points for the Spartans.

“[Theet] was one of those that never wanted to shoot,” Sanders said. “But we just kept telling her to shoot more. Her confidence is up and it showed.”

Theet found her touch in the third quarter, scoring 11 of the Spartans’ 16 points as SSS took a 44-35 lead after three periods.

Cyarra Pierson led Corinth Holders (0-3) with 16 points and Lindsey Jennings added 14 for the Pirates.

A switching defense by Smithfield-Selma helped to keep Corinth Holders off balance.

“I like to play with the defense a little bit, man, zone, man, zone, so they never know what look they are going to get,” Sanders said.

Sanders got what he wanted on defense and in the game -- improvement and a victory to go with it.