UNIONTOWN &045; The eight-time state champions R.C. Hatch Bobcats didn’t waist much time putting away the Keith Bears Tuesday night. The final score would be 51-39, but the game was over long before the final horn sounded.

Hatch got things going in the first thirty seconds of the game with a three-pointer from junior Demarcus Porter. Keith would go up briefly by knocking down two straight field goals. In spite of missing five free throws in the first quarter, the Bobcats went ahead for good on another triple, but this time by senior Antoine Starks. Hatch out scored the Bears 12-4 the final four minutes of the quarter to build a 20-10 lead.

The Bobcats would hold Keith to just eight points in the second quarter. The Hatch defense didn’t allow a bucket the last four minutes of the quarter on the way to doubling their advantage by half time. The Bears found themselves in a hole, 38-18 at the half.

The second half was slowed to a snails pace as Keith stayed in a zone for most of the half. The Bobcats didn’t feel obligated to attack the basket, since the held a big double-digit lead. The Bears never came out of their zone to the crowd’s displeasure, except for the last two minutes of the game when down by more then 10 points, thus almost conceding the game.

Junior Frankie Sullivan led Hatch with 12 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Porter finished with 11 points. Senior Calvin Pope contributed nine points and pulled down eight rebounds. Alvin Jones topped the Bears with eight points.

Hatch, who is ranked No. 2 in the state, is unbeaten at home this season. They are 15-1 in the last two seasons at home. They improve their record to 13-3, including 2-0 in 2A Area-5 play for the season. The Bobcats will host the Southern Choctaw Indians tomorrow in another area match up.