Keith nets first area win over Francis Marion

By James Gilmore | Selma Times-Journal

Published Saturday, December 20, 2008

MARION — Angelica Dukes drained 13 second quarter points on her way to a 22-point night to lead Keith (3-10, 1-1) to its first area win of the season in a 53-46 win over Francis Marion.

"We played a lot better than we have been," said Keith head coach Cecil Williams. "The girls played some good defense tonight and we made some shots when we had to."

With the game knotted at 10 at the end of the first quarter, Dukes led her team to a 21-point outburst in the second eight minutes of play, including three triples to take a 31-23 lead into the half.

Francis Marion (4-5, 1-2) managed just two field goals in the third quarter and allowed the Bears to build a 41-27 lead after three quarters of play.

However, the Rams turned up the defense in the fourth quarter, netting eight straight points off turnovers early on.

The Ram defense gave up an early 3-pointer then shut the Keith offense down for four minutes. The Bears’ offensive lull allowed to Rams to trim the deficit to three points with two minutes to play before the Keith settled down.

"We didn't play with the intensity we like in the first half," said Francis Marion coach Mike Bedell. "We finally got our intensity up in the fourth quarter by pressuring the ball."

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