Pine Bluff High School got one of its top players back Friday night, and he helped lead the Zebras to a dominant rivalry win in boys basketball.
Pine Bluff defeated Watson Chapel 75-40 at McFadden Gym in senior Austyn Dendy’s first game this season.
Dendy, who missed time due to an ankle injury, said it will take time to get fully healthy. Still, he was glad to return to action Friday.
“It felt good,” Dendy said. “I was trying to get back in shape a little bit. That’s why I stayed out there a little long, but it felt great coming back.”
Dendy, who signed with Missouri for football earlier this week, scored 12 points in his return. Randy Emerson Jr. led the Zebras with 14 points, while Courtney Crutchfield scored 11.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Pine Bluff coach Billy Dixon said Dendy brings a lot of energy, especially on defense.
“He’s physical,” Dixon said. “He creates havoc, and he’s just one of the experienced guys that we have back on the court that understands what we do and the whole works, so it was great having him back. It was great having the whole team tonight for a change. We’re still missing a few guys … but to have the key players and what we need, it was good to have everybody back.”
Pine Bluff (8-2) dominated from the opening tip. The Zebras quickly built an early 20-1 lead, forcing the Wildcats to call two timeouts in the process. Kaylon Cannon scored Watson Chapel’s first field goal with fewer than 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but Pine Bluff senior Omar Covington answered with a 3-pointer.
Dixon said his players came out focused.
“They brought the energy and the intensity that we needed,” Dixon said. “They played hard. We have some very high defensive goals that we set. We probably didn’t accomplish all of them tonight, but at least these guys are conscious of that, and they’re verbal, and they’re working toward it.”
Watson Chapel (4-6) junior Joseph Dockett finished the first quarter by shooting 3 of 4 from the free throw line, cutting the deficit to 23-6.
Dockett went on to score a game-high 23 points. He went on a 10-4 run by himself late in the third quarter as he did everything he could to try to spark a comeback.
That comeback never came as Pine Bluff kept the lead around 20 points most of the night before truly pulling away in the fourth quarter. The Zebras began the final period on a 13-0 run, making it 67-34.
Due to Christmas break, Pine Bluff won’t get another full practice before playing in next week’s King Cotton Holiday Classic. Dixon said that made winning this one important for building momentum.
“It was extremely important to close this game out with good energy, good execution,” Dixon said. “Much, much better defense. Sitting down, understanding what we have to do. So, that was it. That’s why it’s so important on a day like today where you’re literally shut down until the day before you play, and all you can do is have a walkthrough. You hope the guys take care of themselves properly over the holiday, enjoy their families.”
Austyn Dendy (13) and Jamaal Hickman (20) of Pine Bluff High School trap Joseph Dockett (11) of Watson Chapel in the first quarter Friday at McFadden Gymnasium. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
JaiKori Phillips of Pine Bluff handles the ball against Kaylon Cannon of Watson Chapel in the first quarter Friday at McFadden Gymnasium. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)