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Old rivals Keith and R.C. Hatch played evenly through the three quarters of the Class 1A, Area 5 boys championship game on the Bears’ home floor Thursday night.

However, Hatch pulled away in the final quarter in their 60-46 win. 

The win gives R.C. Hatch a home game against Pickens County on Saturday while Keith (12-16) will travel to South Lamar (18-11). Both games are set to tip off at 6 p.m.

Hatch opened the game on a 6-0 run, but Keith rallied back to tie the game at 11-11 at the end of the first quarter. 

Both teams went on runs in the second quarter, but Hatch took a 30-29 lead to the break. Keith lost the third quarter 11-10 but still only trailed 41-39.

In the fourth quarter, however, R.C. Hatch got separation outscoring the Bears 19-7 down the stretch.

Keith was led by Titus Lanier with 20 points, followed by Jarius Sanders with six points, Terrence Shannon and Anthony Robinson with five each, Malkam Jones and Jason Moseley with three each and Miles Hannah and Dylan Tabb with two each.

Lavonte Witherspoon led Hatch with 21 points. They also made 10 of 16 free throws for the game while Keith was 10-for-10 from the foul line, but none coming in the second half.