The frustration is starting to build after Pine Bluff dropped its second straight conference game.
On Tuesday, Pine Bluff fell to Benton 60-45 at McFadden Gymnasium. Pine Bluff is 10-7 overall and is now 2-2 in the 6A-South Conference after starting 2-0.
Pine Bluff coach Loy Moore said the team is digging itself too big of a hole in the conference right now.
“It’s huge because they have both been at home,” he said. “We have to win on the road now if you want to stay in the race, that’s what it’s all about. We aren’t out there everyday to try and finish third and fourth.
“It’s not over, and we still control our own destiny, but we have to go out on the road and win games against good teams.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The game got out of control quickly for Pine Bluff as Benton, which is 12-6 and 4-0 in the conference, got out to a 12-4 first quarter lead.
The gap did not close much by the end of the first half as Benton had a 29-14 halftime lead.
Benton coach Jerry Chumley said the team’s offense came around on Tuesday.
“Our defense has been pretty good all year, and this is the first time we came out and had some (offensive) rhythm early,” he said. “Allison Reynolds hit a couple of threes early to loosen things up for us, and we played relaxed all night. It was a good game for us.”
By the end of the third quarter, Benton had a 45-22 lead and was feeding the ball for easy scores inside to a number of players.
Moore said the team knew what to expect going into the game.
“They are balanced, but we knew that coming in,” he said. “We are putting together game plans that will be effective if we execute them, and we aren’t doing a good job of executing right now.”
Jasmyn Eckermann led Pine Bluff with 12 points, Ajia Richardson had nine points and Victoria Broady scored eight points.
Madi Brooks had a game-high 14 points for Benton and Reynolds and Haley Bryant each scored 11 points.