Senior forward Robert Childers blocked Alvin Jones’ last-chance three-pointer Saturday night and the Selma High School Saints held off the scrappy Keith Bears, 64-61, in the Bears’ Den.

The Saints looked on the way to an easy win over the Bears when they built a 43-29 lead midway through the third period. But the Bears clawed their way back into the game with a pressure defense and perimeter shooting that had been missing for much of the game.

After a pair of Lewis Lee free throws got the Bears to within 10, John Harrison sank a three-pointer from the left corner to make it a 47-40 game.

After the teams traded baskets, Edgar Brown followed John Dailey’s missed three-pointer and hit the tip-in to give Selma a 51-42 advantage.

The Saints again claimed a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter before the Bears once again rallied.

Ladarius Jones hit a baseline jumper to bring Keith back to within 57-48. Alvin Jones followed with a jumper from the same spot to cut the margin to 57-50.

Tamarcus Thomas came up with a big steal for the Bears, then sent a bounce pass to Charlie Jones on the left wing for a three-pointer to make it 57-53 with just over three minutes to go.

After a Dailey lay-up made it a five-point Selma lead, the Bears sliced the deficit to three when Alvin Jones came away with a steal and breakaway lay-up to make it 58-55.

Childers kept the Saints ahead with a running lay-up, followed by a perimeter bounce pass to Jimmy Smith for a short jumper from the left wing.

Dominic Thomas and Ladarius Jones each sank a basket to keep the Bears a three-pointer from tying the game.

Alvin Jones nearly knotted the game when he came away with another steal. Jones considered launching a possible game-tying trey, but instead elected to toss the ball to Thomas for a running lay-up that narrowed the margin to 62-61 with 1:09 to play.

After a Keith timeout, Quindell Pernell sank the front end of a pair of free throws to give the Saints a 63-61 edge with 31.4 seconds remaining.

On the Bears’ ensuing possession, Thomas dribbled to his left to the center of the floor, then sent a bounce pass to Alvin Jones, who squared up for a three-pointer. But just as Jones was ready to let loose with the shot, Childers dived in from behind to slap the ball from Jones’ hands.

Pernell grabbed the ball and dribbled it downcourt, where he was fouled. After missing his first free throw, Pernell made the second to give the Saints a three-point lead.

The Bears had one final chance to tie the game, but Anthony Robinson’s three-point shot from the left corner hit long off the rim.