Benton hands Zebras first conference loss

The final two undefeated teams in the 5A-South Conference met Tuesday night at Pine Bluff High School, and Benton led most of the night to hand the Zebras their first conference loss.

Pine Bluff scored off the opening tip but never led again in a 66-57 home loss. Coach Billy Dixon said this performance reflects how recent practices have gone.

“Right now, we’re feeling good about being ranked No. 1 in the state, which, we won’t have to worry about that anymore,” Dixon said. “We were concerned about everybody chasing us, and we’re currently defending 5A state champions. Now, we have to refocus, and those guys have to understand the culture that we have built and where we are and how we go about our business, and if you don’t do it that way, then this is basically what happens.”

Pine Bluff (12-4, 5-1 in 5A-South) was led by Randy Emerson Jr., who scored 16 points, all in the second half. Deriyon Graydon added 13, and Courtney Crutchfield scored 10.

Benton junior Terrion Burgess scored a game-high 25 points, most of it coming in the second half after Pine Bluff got him into foul trouble early. Harrison Pickett added 16 for the Panthers (15-4, 5-0).

Dixon said the Zebras had a game plan to defend Burgess, but he is a great player and tough to stop.

“I thought we did a better job in the first half,” Dixon said. “When you choose to go at him and create the fouls, then fine, but once he’s in foul trouble, we have to understand that we just have to keep going at him. He has a choice. He’s going to let you score, or he has to foul you. If he wants to stay in the game, he’s going to let you score. … When he was out of the game, I don’t think we took advantage of him out and them having other players in the lineup.”

Free throw shooting made a big difference, especially down the stretch as Benton held on to its lead. The Panthers made 17 of 19 from the line, while Pine Bluff made just 8 of 20.

Pine Bluff won the opening tip, and Kaden Higgins scored within seconds to give the Zebras a 2-0 lead. Benton’s Elem Shelby answered with a 3-pointer, starting an 8-2 Panther run. Pine Bluff closed the gap to 2 points twice, but Benton led 14-12 after the first quarter.

The Panthers opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to pad their lead, and the Zebras had to play catch-up from there. Benton led 32-22 at halftime despite Burgess sitting much of the second quarter with three fouls.

Each team went on runs in the third quarter, with Burgess and Graydon each throwing down electrifying dunks. Benton led 48-38 entering the fourth.

Pine Bluff twice cut the deficit to 5 points with 3-pointers, but Benton answered each time. Crutchfield hit another big 3-pointer to make it 59-55, but the Panthers put the game away with a 6-0 run fueled by turnovers.

GIRLS

Benton 52, Pine Bluff 23

Other than a second-quarter run, Pine Bluff had few answers for the reigning conference champions Tuesday night.

The Fillies basketball team never led in a 52-23 home loss to Benton.

Taniya Jackson and Madison Coakes led Pine Bluff (1-11, 0-6 in 5A-South) with 6 points each.

McCartney Asher scored the game’s first 6 points for Benton (8-7, 5-0) before Makenzie Frazier got Pine Bluff on the board. Benton went on to lead 19-4 early in the second quarter, but the Fillies answered with a 9-0 run. Kalia Parks capped off the run with a 3-pointer. Pine Bluff didn’t score again in the first half, and Benton led 28-13 at halftime.

Kennedy Sanders of Pine Bluff scored the first 2 points of the second half, but Pine Bluff didn’t score again until Jackson hit a jumper with around 4 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, by which point the running clock rule had been triggered. Those two Pine Bluff shots flanked a 24-0 Benton run, as the Lady Panthers led by as much as 52-15.

The Fillies finished the game on an 8-0 run against Benton’s reserves as the Lady Panthers remained undefeated in conference play.