The Keith High School basketball team couldn’t have picked a better time to catch fire. The Bears used an offensive explosion to cruise past perennial power St. Jude of Montgomery71-51 to move into regionals.

Keith head coach Tommy Tisdale said the Bears haven’t had a night like this in a long time.

“That’s probably the most points we’ve scored in three years,” he said. “And we were playing a really good team here tonight. But, we’ve got a pretty good program here too.”

The Bears had four players reach double figures in the win. Rodney Ellis rolled up 19 points followed by Chris Oden with 18, Forrest Pasley with 14 and Michael Drake with 11.

The Bears needed a total team effort to pull out the win, Tisdale said.

The Bears had the game in hand almost from the tipoff. St. Jude scored the first basket of the game, but they didn’t stay on top long.

The Bears used tough defense to force turnovers and a fast paced offense to roll up a 19-11 lead by the end of the first period.

The Bears held off every charge the Pirates made and answered to maintain a 31-22 lead at the half.

The third quarter was more of the same with Keith still holding onto an 11 point lead 49-38 heading into the final period.

In the fourth period, the Bears put the hammer down and closed the book.Now, Tisdale said, the Bears will face the winner of the Holy Spirit and Alabama School for the Deaf.

With either team, Tisdale said the Bears will have their hands full.

The game will be held Thursday in Montgomery. A tipoff time has not been announced.