Andalusia girls coach Bennie Shellhouse said Friday there are two “keys” in tonight’s Class 4A, Area 3 championship game against Thomasville.

“The two keys for us are not to turn the ball over and rebounding,” he said. “If we take care of those two things I think we’ll have a pretty good chance.”

Thursday night, the Lady Bulldogs (21-5) defeated Clarke County 51-46 in the first round of the girls area tournament in Thomasville.

Last year at the area tournament, players were suffering some illnesses, but that’s not the case leading into tonight’s game.

“We’re healthy right now,” Shellhouse said. “We’re healthy as far as being mentally tough — we fight every game. We just never get that break away lead that you hope to get.”

Shellhouse said fundamentals will be crucial to success in tonight’s game.

“That’s probably the key to success,” he said. “Taking care of the ball, making good passes, rebounding, lay ups and free throws.”

Having a belief that your players can win a big game is important for any coach.

“I believe they can win,” Shellhouse said. “We’ve won the last 18 of 19 games. I mean, it’s not a matter of whether or not we can win — it’s just doing it. We’ve got to go out there and play hard.”

Tip off in Thomasville is at 7 p.m.