MONTGOMERY — For the second time in three years, the Keith Bears are headed to Birmingham for the class 1A state semifinals.

Harriet Winchester, who was named tournament MVP, scored 24 points to lead the Bears to a 52-35 victory over Sunshine Wednesday in the class 1A girls’ central regional final at Alabama State University. After jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, Keith led by double digits the rest of the way.

“We started out real hot and played good defense early,” Keith head coach Cecil Williams said. “We controlled the game until the end. It got a little sloppy, but we pulled together to win the regional.”

When the final horn sounded, the Keith players didn’t hold a celebration like many of other winners throughout Wednesday. Instead, they grabbed the trophy and took photos without much jubilee.

There may be a reason for that.

Two years ago Keith blew a second half lead against Brantley and lost in the girls 1A championship game. Now, on the precipice of reaching the title game again, the Bears are hopeful for a shot at redemption.

“We made it two years ago and lost in the championship game, so it feels like a chance to redeem ourselves,” Williams said. “God has given us an opportunity to go back, and this year I feel like we are going to handle business the way we should.”

Many of the players on Keith’s current roster were on that team. Winchester and Zykia Pettway were both freshmen and Shatavia Moore was in seventh grade.  All three made the 1A all-tournament team Wednesday.

“They are growing and understanding the game,” Williams said. “They do a lot more talking as a team, and that lets me know they are growing as a unit.”

Williams said his team has grown exponentially since then, but the Bears still only have two seniors — Dasheena Thomas and Ty’Ceayonna Murray. Young, but experienced, Keith is hoping to win the school’s first girls basketball championship since 1990.

“[Last time] we made the cake, but we didn’t eat it,” Winchester said. “This year, I think my team has made up its mind that we’re going to win it.”

The Bears made a strong case to be among the favorites during their two games at Alabama State. Keith’s two wins over Loachapoka and Sunshine came against the last two teams to beat the Bears this season.

Keith has won 14 straight games and hasn’t lost since Dec. 30.

The Bears led 19-3 after the first quarter Wednesday and 33-12 at halftime.

Moore scored 12 points and added 4 rebounds and Zykia Pettway had 9 points and 15 rebounds.

Keith will play Decatur-Heritage Monday at 9 a.m. in Birmingham in a state semifinal.