Wilcox tops Keith as Bears lose another close one
Published 11:55 pm Friday, November 18, 2016
- Keith’s Justyn Pettway dribbles the ball around Wilcox Central’s Eric Stewart Jr. during Friday’s game. --Daniel Evans
ORRVILLE — Once again, the Keith Bears found themselves in a tight game in the fourth quarter and for the third straight game, the shots didn’t fall when they mattered most.
The Bears (0-3) fell to Wilcox Central 74-62 Friday in a game closer than the final score indicated. The Bears led by four at halftime but trailed by five going into the fourth quarter.
Wilcox went on a 13-6 run in the second half to pull away.
“The saying is you are what your record is, but I also see us one or two plays away from being 3-0,” said Keith coach Tommy Tisdale. “As a coach, that’s the positive I pull from it.”
For a team that is used to winning, an 0-3 start is a rarity. Keith reached the state semifinals last season in class 1A, falling only a play or two short from the state championship game.
This year close losses have become the norm. The Bears lost to Selma by six, Dallas County by one in overtime and on Friday to Wilcox Central by 12.
“We’re trying to keep the players together amongst what they have to hear. They have to hear a lot of stuff and I understand that. They are going to get things from their peers, from the community just because of the tradition and the success we’ve had here in recent years,” Tisdale said. “But if you know basketball, if you’ve been to any games, you can see that with a new team, we can see where we need to be, but we just haven’t taken that step yet.”
Justyn Pettway scored 25 points to lead the Bears, including knocking down two first half 3-pointers. Tyre Webster also had a good night on the offensive end, as he scored 13 points.
Keith trailed by six with four minutes to play, but a 3-pointer by Jahyree Bennett put Wilcox up nine with 3:41 to play. Keith’s Kendarius Perry made a 3-pointer on the next possession, but Wilcox put it away with a big shot by Jemetris Pettway.
Jemetris made a layup and was fouled on a hard drive to the basket. He completed the 3-point play, putting Wilcox ahead 67-58. Keith didn’t get closer than nine the rest of the way.
The Bears play next against Gulf Shores on Monday.
