The last time Keith (30-2) and Spring Garden (29-4) met, the 1A state championship was on the line. This time around, a chance to play for the championship will be at stake.

The two teams will meet Monday at noon at the BJCC for the first time since the Bears won last season’s state championship 38-25.

“We are coming to play, plain and simple,” said Keith coach Cecil Williams. “We are coming in to defend what we did last year. We are focused.”

In last year’s game, Harriet Winchester earned MVP honors by scoring 18 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Zykia Pettway chipped in another 12 points and 10 rebounds and was also named to the all-tournament team.

Keith shot 14-for-38 from the field in that game and outrebounded the Panthers 35-25. Tykeah Rogers, who scored 16 points, was the only player in double figures for Spring Garden.

The Panthers shot 2-for-21 in the first half and Keith led throughout. In the second half, the Bears had long possessions to drain clock and keep Spring Garden from getting back in the game.

This time around both teams are probably expecting a closer game.

Not only does Keith return every player that scored in that game — Winchester, Pettway, Ambreya Snow and Shatavia Moore — but Spring Garden returns the majority of its key pieces too.

Both Madison Sides and Savannah Dempsey are back and both are coming in off good games against Winterboro, who Spring Garden beat 47-35, in the Northeast Regional Championship. Sides scored 15 points and Dempsey chipped in 12 more for the Panthers.

In last year’s championship game, Sides and Dempsey combined for five points.

Keith, who has been ranked No. 1 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association all season, rallied to defeat No. 2 ranked Loachapoka in the Central Regional final. Spring Garden is ranked No. 4 in the state.