ORRVILLE — Playing in its first game of the year as the top-ranked team in class 1A, Keith scored the final nine points against Southside Friday to hang on for a 64-56 victory.

The Bears (12-8) trailed with under three minutes to play, but a jump shot by Jaequan Simmons from behind the basket with 2:45 left gave Keith a 57-56 lead. John Pettway finished off his 25-point night with three free throws to extend the lead and Simmons put the nail in the coffin with a floater in the lane with 35 seconds left.

“I think an ugly win versus a Southside team two or three years removed from the [state] championship game is a testament to what we’ve been doing,” Keith head coach Tommy Tisdale said. “I thought it was a pretty good game from start to finish.”

The final margin of victory was the largest the lead got the entire way. Southside (5-15) led after the first, second and third quarter, but never by more than one shot.

“These guys did an awesome job, especially coming off last night’s area victory,” Southside coach Cedric Brown said. “I think the game really came down to legs. Our legs were kind of shot late in the fourth quarter.”

The game was tied early in the fourth quarter when a steal and layup through contact by President Hasberry put Keith up 51-49. Hasberry missed the ensuing free throw. Just seconds later, Hasberry again stole the ball from Southside, but this time he dove on the floor to get the possession. Tisdale said that type of energy is what carried his team Friday.

“That was Keith basketball,” Tisdale said. “I told my guys ‘I haven’t seen a dive on the floor in about two or three years.’”

Khamari Gibbs made a layup to tie the game on Southside’s next possession to start an exchange where the teams traded scores.

Southside took a 56-55 lead when Jhalandius Sullivan found Gibbs wide open under the basket for a layup with 3:23 to play. Simmons somehow answered, knocking down a jumper that appeared to be from behind the basket with just under three minutes to play.

“They came down and make big shots and we answered with big shots,” Brown said.

Sullivan missed two free throws at the other end that could’ve given the Panthers back the lead. Keith, who struggled much of the night at the line, started knocking in the freebies when they counted.

The Bears finished the game 20-of-35 at the line.

Friday’s matchup featured the only two AHSAA teams left in Dallas County with an umblemished area record. The Panthers are 3-0 in class 4A, area 3 and the Bears are 4-0 in class 1A, area 5.

The game was also Southside’s third of the week. The Panthers first two games this week were both close area wins, giving them the inside track to host their area tournament.

“We are gradually getting better and January is when we want to be playing our best ball,” Brown said.

Eight different Panthers’ players scored in the game, with Kentavius Page leading with nine.

Keith will host Akron Monday and Southside will travel to Thomasville Tuesday.