The Pine Bluff Zebras edged a 52-46 win over the Benton Panthers on Monday night.
The Zebras got off to a slow start as they trailed 10-1 to Benton in the first few minutes of the game.
Kendrick Thorn scored the next four points for Pine Bluff to keep it close, but the Panthers held a 10-5 lead after the first quarter.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In the second quarter, Kaleb Higgins and Jyrimee Thompson both scored four points to help the Zebras spark an 11-4 run for their first lead of the game at 16-14.
Benton regained the lead with a basket from Jai Peters, but Thorn added five of Pine Bluff’s next eight points to extend their lead to 24-19 at halftime.
Peters heated up for Benton, scoring the first 10 points for the Panthers to give them a 29-28 lead in the beginning of the third quarter.
Both teams would trade baskets, but Peters would not be denied, as he scored 18 of the Panthers 20 third quarter points to tie the game up at 39-39 at the end of the period.
With Benton leading 44-43 after a basket by Peters, Darius Morris made a layup to give the Zebras a 45-44 lead late in the fourth quarter.
After a free throw from Thorn for Pine Bluff, Morris was sent to the line to make two more free throws that would put the game away for the Zebras.
Peters had a game high of 33 points to lead the way for the Panthers.
For Pine Bluff, Thorn led with 15 points, and Thompson added 12 points.
GIRLS
The Pine Bluff Fillies fell short to the Benton Lady Panthers by a score of 43-41 on Monday night in a make-up game between the two teams.
The Lady Panthers held an early 10-5 lead over Pine Bluff midway through the first quarter. The Fillies developed a 9-4 run to end the first quarter to tie the game at 14-14.
In the beginning of the second quarter, Bre Gray nailed a triple, and along with a basket from Jaidan Woods and Keirria Brice, Pine Bluff went ahead of Benton 21-18.
Benton would answer back after Italei Gray scored two baskets, and with a basket from Kati Morrow, the Lady Panthers held a 24-21 lead over the Fillies heading into halftime.
Both teams traded baskets in the third quarter, but the Fillies would take the lead late in the quarter.
Brice made a tough layup, and Gray added another triple for the Fillies to lead the Lady Panthers 32-30 at the end of the third quarter.
Benton took the lead with a three-pointer from Gray, but Lydya Deshazier and Brice both added a basket for the Fillies to regain the lead 34-33.
Later in the fourth, Benton fought back to take the lead with a pair of free throws from Makenzy Davidson and a triple from Morrow for a 40-39 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
After a free throw for Benton, Brice made a clutch basket for the Fillies to tie it at 41-41 with 20.2 seconds left in the game.
However, Gray was fouled and knocked down two free throws that would win the game for Benton.
For Pine Bluff, Bre Gray led with 18 points and Brice followed with 12 points.
Benton was led by Italei Gray with 17 points, and Morrow added 14 points.