When Keith opponents look at the Bears’ box scores this year, they may do a double take. The name “J. Pettway” has been a familiar sight at the top of Keith’s scoring charts for years, but John Pettway graduated last season and is now on scholarship at South Alabama.

His cousin, Justyn Pettway, now gets his chance to shine.

Justyn, a senior, is likely to have the ball in his hands a lot as the Bears begin their season — one they hope will lead them back to Birmingham and the state finals for a second straight year.

“[We can] be as good as we was last year or better,” Justyn said.

Under head coach Tommy Tisdale, the Bears remain focused around the defensive end of the floor. Keith wants to force turnovers, control the pace and play hard. During Tisdale’s tenure, those traits have paid off and this year, he’s expecting no less from the Bears.

“You can’t win if you don’t play defense,” Justyn said. “If you want the ball, you’ve got to play defense and get it.”

The Bears will take the floor for the first time this year Friday against county rival Selma in Orrville. Most players have a few butterflies when a new season begins, but Justyn said he won’t.

“I won’t be nervous,” Justyn said.

Perhaps that’s the confidence from offseason work talking. Justyn said he spent time focused on his dribbling and shooting this offseason and he hopes it pays off this year.

If it does, he’ll likely be one of Keith’s leading scorers again this year.

Of course, in Orrville, it’ll just seem normal to have a “Pettway” putting up points.