A shorthanded Pine Bluff squad held its own for three quarters against a team locked in a high school basketball playoff race Friday night.
The Zebras fell 54-41 to Hot Springs Lakeside at the Jack Robey campus.
Pine Bluff (4-21, 1-11 in 5A-South) was short nine players due to various injuries, with only one typical starter available. Coach Billy Dixon said it is a blessing in disguise, because it allows some younger guys to get varsity experience.
“They get a chance to get some experience and figure out what it’s like,” Dixon said. “They gotta keep working hard, and we did for the most part. For the most part, we played well pretty much the whole game. In those critical moments, you gotta figure out how to win, and I think that’s what our guys our doing. A lot of them are still learning how to win.”
The Zebras fell behind 11-5 early but tied the game at 11 with 13 seconds left in the first quarter on a layup by junior Quintin Roy.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Lakeside (17-6, 7-5) senior Ty Braziel hit a floater as time expired in the first quarter to restore the Rams’ lead. Pine Bluff senior Braylon Morden opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Zebras their first lead, 14-13.
Dixon said keeping up with a good team should help build the young players’ confidence.
“We’re accustomed to winning, and that’s what we want to do,” Dixon said. “When we don’t have that result, obviously, the guys, they don’t see the good things that are happening. The end result means that we didn’t win the ballgame, but … we’re getting better.”
Sloan Hayes, a senior, hit the next two shots to put Lakeside back in front for good, though the Zebras hit shots to cut the deficit to 1 point three times in the quarter before a late 3-pointer by senior Sam Trusty made it 24-20 Lakeside at halftime.
Pine Bluff got the score within a possession twice in the third quarter but trailed 38-32 at the end. Lakeside outscored the Zebras 16-9 in the fourth quarter to finally pull away.
Roy led Pine Bluff with 12 points, followed by Morden with 11. Sophomore guard Blake Moore, one of the players who got extra playing time, followed with 9.
Trusty led Lakeside with 15 points, followed by Hayes with 12.
GIRLS: Lakeside 62, Pine Bluff 26
The top girls team in 5A South dominated Friday night.
Lakeside (17-7, 12-0) led 26-5 after the first quarter and 48-8 at halftime. Lady Rams guards McKenzie Williams and Payton Futch scored most of the points before exiting the game with the other starters 3:07 before halftime. Williams scored 20 points, and Futch finished with 15. Neither played in the second half.
Pine Bluff (0-23, 0-12) briefly led 3-2 early in the game after a 3-pointer by senior Omiyah Bullard, but Lakeside scored the next 12 points. The Fillies opened the second half on a 10-2 run and ultimately outscored Lakeside 14-8 in the third quarter.
Kaitlyn Williams, a junior, led Pine Bluff with 8 points, followed by Bullard with 7.
Pine Bluff junior Kaitlyn Williams shoots a jumper while guarded by Lakeside defender Jaylen Brakebill. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)