The score in the Inter-Ac League contest, played before an overflow crowd, was 53-48 and somehow the Blue Devils never slipped into the red.
There was one tie, at 29-29, and the 6-foot, 210-pound Keyes, a junior point guard, broke that at the very last instant of the third quarter.
Starting on the left baseline, he motored hard to the hoop and curled in a reverse, off-the-glass layup that featured all kinds of backspin.
In all? Glad you asked.
Though basketball is definitely his far-and-away No. 2 sport, Keyes finished with 19 points and six assists. Pretty darn good for a guy who looks as if he'd be much more comfortable hoisting a barbell, as opposed to dribbling a basketball.
"I played point guard in CYO ball and on the JV here," Keyes said. "But . . . "
True. It's not the same.
Admittedly, Keyes had help, because most of the Blue Devils, even the 6-6 Garner, who's bound for UMBC, spent time up top to make sure a very careful offense ran smoothly.
"Billy Dooley [bound for American; son of coach Bill Dooley] played in Tuesday's game, and then we found out after Wednesday's film session that he wouldn't be able to go today," Keyes said. "Our idea was to have someone out front who'd get the least amount of ball pressure, so we could get into our offense easier.
"We were looking for the best matchups. We wanted to make them chase and then get the best possible shot. If a good shot was there, from anywhere, we were allowed to take it. I like running the offense. Getting to call it."
If the early launchings turn into bricks, the plan can disintegrate. But there was Hayes, taking a pass from Keyes and making it 3-0. Then, there were those guys again, pulling off a vice versa to make it 6-0.
That great start boosted the players' confidence, while at the same time getting the SCH loyalists even more into the proceedings.
