With the playoffs on the horizon, Keith head coach Tommy Tisdale wanted to see if his team could follow a game plan from start to finish. The Bears answered that question with flying colors Monday in a 48-40 win over a Bibb County team that had beaten them just a week ago.

Keith (15-11) nearly squandered a late 10-point lead, but Jaequan Simmons knocked in five fourth quarter free throws to steady the Bears.

“For the last three or four days, we’ve been working on game situation versus an opponent. Early in the season we were just playing Keith basketball, doing what we do and making you adjust to us,” Tisdale said. “Going into this part of the season, you’ve got to be able to prepare for each individual game as it presents itself.”

The adjustments are working. Kendarius Bryant started for the first time and had the ball in his hands most of the night, allowing John Pettway and Simmons to play off the ball. Simmons answered the call offensively, knocking down four three-pointers and leading the Bears with 19 points.

“Pettway is no secret to anybody in the state, but I had other guys that contributed tonight,” Tisdale said.

“Bryant made his first start of his career at the point and he freed up Pettway from having to handle the ball all night, and he freed up Simmons from having to have the ball all night.”

The Bears led 41-31 with over four minutes to play, but Bibb County quickly closed the gap. Brandon Rutledge completed a three-point play and several possessions later slammed home a dunk that brought the Choctaws within 41-38.

After Bibb missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with 2:58 left, Simmons started knocking in free throws. He made two with 2:48 left to stretch Keith’s lead to five and Pettway drove through the lane for a layup seconds later to put the game out of reach.

Tisdale said the win probably creates some momentum for his team, but he is more focused on Keith taking each game one at a time.

“If you get caught up in your last game while playing your next game, it could be your last game,” Tisdale said.

The Bears trailed 11-8 after the opening quarter but retook the lead in the second period and didn’t trail the rest of the way. Keith led 22-17 at halftime and 35-31 after the third quarter.

Keith won’t play again until Friday, when the Bears will host Francis Marion in their regular season finale. Before then, a coin flip Wednesday will determine where the class 1A, area 5 tournament will be played. Keith and Sunshine finished the season deadlocked at the top of the standings, meaning the coin will decide where the tournament will be played next week.

“I’d be remise if I told you I didn’t want to play at home,” Tisdale said. “You’re at your house with your locker rooms and you are playing on the goals you practice on.”