PARAGOULD -- The Blytheville Chickasaws did something Tuesday night not many teams have done the last few seasons: win at Greene County Tech.
The Chicks handed the 5A-East leading Golden Eagles their first conference loss of the season, 53-43, at the GCT Multipurpose Building.
"This is one of the toughest venues to play," Blytheville head coach David Hixson said after the game in a radio interview. "This was a huge win. The kids are starting to believe and understand."
Playing its best basketball of the season, Blytheville has now won four of its last six games and owns sole possession of third place in the 5A-East behind league co-leaders Tech and Wynne.
Meanwhile, the 5A-East leading Lady Chicks weren't as fortunate Tuesday night, suffering their first league loss, 62-58, to Tech in a game that went down to the wire.
In the boys game, the Chicks (6-9, 4-2) outworked their biggest conference rival, seeming to win the battles for the loose balls and attacking the glass to get back in the thick of the 5A-East race.
"We had unbelievable play from our bench," Hixson said. "They saved us tonight. We had so many off the bench contribute."
The Chicks also kept Tech 6-foot-5 standout Caleb Hartwig in check, limiting him under double figures after he posted 25 against Blytheville last year at Chickasaw Gym.
Jimmy Aldridge had a big night for Blytheville, scoring a game-high 14 points, including netting 6 of 6 at the line.
Aldridge was clutch at the line down the stretch. He sank 4 of 4 free throws in the final 1:05 to help Blytheville hold onto a double digit lead.
After taking a 27-21 lead into halftime, Blytheville never trailed in the second half.
With 6:48 left in the third, Tech tied it, 27-27, on former Rivercrest two-sport star Zach George's shot in the lane, some of his team-high 11 points.
Chuck Mitchell and Danny Lee answered with back-to-back buckets for Blytheville. Tech cut it to two twice, but Levester Stone put back his own miss with 3:22 left in the third to start a 10-2 run.
Aldridge's layup in the closing seconds gave Blytheville a 43-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.
GCT cut it to six on Adam Slaton's baseline drive with 5:43 to play.
Stone, who had nine points and six boards, countered with a stickback, two of several second-chance points on the night for the Chicks.
Devione Sherman stretched the lead to double figures, 49-39, with just under two minutes to play with a free throw that followed his steal.
Four free throws from Aldridge, who had eight second half points, gave the Chicks a comfortable, 53-39 lead with 35.9 seconds left.
The Chicks led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, after scoring six of those points on stickbacks. Mitchell had four points off two putbacks and four total rebounds in the opening period, and the Chicks totaled 14 points off stickbacks for the night.
Mitchell, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds, had eight points and five boards at the break.
Meanwhile, Stone stretched Blytheville's lead to 17-8 just 40 seconds into the second quarter, after he nailed a three-pointer, then scored on a layup.
Tech chipped away, tying the game at 17-all at the 5:27 mark.
Aldridge answered with four straight Chickasaw points, part of a 10-4 run to close the half as the Chicks took a six-point advantage into the locker room.
For Blytheville, Lee had nine points and six boards, Stone nine points, Sherman five, Miles Hooks three, Ke'Andre Diamond two and Raymond Golphin one.
GCT 62, Lady Chicks 58
A controversial no-call as Blytheville's Amber Clay went up for the potential game-tying score with about 10 seconds left Tuesday night proved costly for the Lady Chicks.
Blytheville fans wanted a foul call on the play. Instead, Tech scored on the other end to set the final score. Brooke Tabor's basket with 50 seconds proved to be the game-winner for the Lady Golden Eagles.
After GCT(12-5, 4-2 5A-East) led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, the two teams went back-and-forth in the second period, and the game was tied 27-27 at halftime.
Tech retook the lead in the third period, holding a 46-42 advantage going into the final frame.
Tabor's final of her team-high 18 points gave Tech the final lead of the game.
Sharmaine Selvy paced Blytheville (12-3, 5-1) with 18 points, while Dequesha Prude added 15 and Amber Clay 14.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com