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The Keith High School basketball teams ran into a pair of Hale County basketball teams that were both ranked No. 3 in Class 3A on Thursday night.

The Keith Lady Bears nearly overcame a rough start in the first half. Hale County led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Bears outscored the Lady Wildcats 12-10 in the second quarter to cut the advantage to 28-21 at halftime.

Keith cut farther into the lead with a 16-11 third quarter, making it a 39-36 game headed into the final stanza.

The Lady Wildcats, however, took control early in fourth quarter with a 16-6 advantage to take the 55-43 win.

Adasia Atkins led the Lady Bears with 12 points while S. Moore had nine points. Jocelyn Atkins added eight points followed by J. Reese with six points, Miracle Murray with four and C. Richardson and Ja’Kayla Moore with two each.

Hale County 75, Keith 54

The third-ranked Wildcats jumped out to a 28-16 lead in the first quarter, and the Bears answered with a 14-11 second quarter to cut the lead to 39-30 at halftime.

The two teams played evenly through the third quarter with 14 apiece, but the Wildcats pulled away down the stretch with a 22-10 advantage.

Jairus Sanders led the way with 13 points for the Bears while Anthony Robinson added 12 points.

Eric Hall, Jason Mosely and Jaquarian McElroy had seven points each followed by Malkom Jones with five points all after halftime and Jatavious Milhouse with three.