Blytheville holds off Rebels at Dyersburg

DYERSBURG, Tenn.--The Blytheville Chickasaws advanced in the consolation bracket of the Dyersburg Invitational Christmas Tournament with a 57-51 win over the Tipton Rosemark Academy Rebels Wednesday afternoon at Dyersburg High School. The Chicks will play for 5th place in the tournament at 2:30 p.m. today against the Lausanne, Tenn. Lynx.

After struggling through a slow first half and leading by only three at the break, the Chicks broke out and led by double digits in the second behind Raymond Golphin's game high 23-point effort and put away the Rebels who made a late charge.

"I was afraid we'd have a hangover from the Caruthersville game and we did," said Chickasaw head coach David Hixson. "We didn't play with any energy early on."

Less than 24 hours after letting their opening round game against Caruthersville slip away, the Chicks found themselves getting out to leads and letting Tipton back into the game.

Blytheville ran off four in a row to end the first period and led, 15-8, heading into the second. Harold Beverly opened the quarter with a steal and found Golphin all alone at the other end to put the Chicks up by nine at 17-8. But Tipton responded with a 12-4 run and cut the lead to 21-20 after a pair of Connor Alexander free throws with 3:49 left in the half. Golphin responded for the Chicks with back-to-back steals leading to break away lay ups to put the Chicks up by five with just over three to play in the half. Arkestion Straughter's bucket late in the half gave the Chicks a 27-24 lead at the break.

"I got after them pretty hard at halftime," said Hixson. "We'd get our lead and just sort of let up. I told them we weren't here for a holiday. We were here to enjoy the game and play it right."

The Chicks played the game right to begin the second half, especially on offense. Greg McKillion (eight points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots) and Golphin scored the first two baskets on nice assists from Ke'Andre Diamond and Micheal Bell. Ten of the Chicks 20 third period points came off of assists.

The Chicks led by as many as 14 in the period and forced seven turnovers in the period.

Golphin scored 11 of his 23 in the period. He closed out the period with a three-pointer and a basket underneath off of a nice pass from Damion Wilson to give the Chicks a 47-35 lead heading into the final frame.

"Raymond was very active tonight," said Hixson. "They'd (Tipton) go to a high-low defense and we could get it down to the high post area and find Raymond underneath. He was very active tonight and that's what we like to see."

Golphin also collected 10 rebounds to go along with his 23 points.

Blytheville kept the double-digit lead through the first four and a half minutes of the fourth but back-to-back three pointers from Tipton's Nick Briggs and J.T. Moody brought the Rebels to within four at 51-47 with 3:14 left to play. At 6-foot-5, Moody kept the Rebels in the game with long range shooting and the ability to get baskets underneath and get to the foul line. He scored 10 of his team high 21 points at the foul line and hit two three pointers.

"He's (Moody) a really good player," said Hixson. "He kept them in the game."

Tipton enjoyed a huge advantage at the foul line shooting 23 attempts (making 17) to only six for Blytheville.

Heading into the final minutes, Tipton found themselves needing to foul the Chicks, stop the clock and get possessions.

But with only three team fouls with just over a minute to play, Blytheville's quickness took over the game. Diamond dribbled past Tipton defenders and used up at least 10 seconds of precious clock time before Rebel defenders could catch him despite playing on a sore ankle.

Finally, he was sent to the line twice in the final thirty seconds and connected on all four shots to seal the deal for the Chicks.

"He (Diamond) came through for us again," said Hixson. "I asked him if he was 100 percent after the first quarter because I didn't think he was playing very hard but he responded big time. He's a clutch kid. He's who you want to have at the line when the game is still in doubt and he certainly cashed in for us."

The Chicks play Lausanne, who defeated New Madrid, Mo. Wednesday morning.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com