Chicks fall to NMCC in OT

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Sometimes it takes more than four periods to settle a score. Tuesday night, it took Blytheville and New Madrid, Mo. an extra four minutes to decide the winner as the Eagles defeated the Chicks, 58-56, in overtime.

With :07.1 seconds on the overtime clock and Blytheville (8-6) down two, Ke'Andre Diamond (15 points, seven assists and three steals) took an inbounds pass after a Gabe Smith free throw, dribbled the length of the court and came up just short on a lay up attempt. A follow up attempt from Arkestion Stroughter (14 points) bounced off of the rim as time expired to give New Madrid the win.

"With that much time left and that far to go, you really can't set much up," said Blytheville head coach David Hixson. "Sometimes your best shot is to just get it to your best ball handler and let them make something happen. We knew they'd (New Madrid) charge at him (Diamond) pretty hard because of how fast he goes and that leaves trailers open behind him. It just didn't work out tonight."

While Diamond's overtime attempt fell short, he was responsible for getting the Chicks to overtime in the first place.

Ahead, 53-50, with .07.9 seconds remaining in regulation, New Madrid's, Lamonta Nelson missed the second of two free throw attempts.

Blytheville's, Greg McKillion, (five points, six steals and five rebounds) grabbed the rebound, threw an outlet pass to Diamond who dribbled the length of the court and nailed a three-pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime.

In their last game before the tough 5A-East schedule begins on Friday, the Chicks looked flat and trailed for most of the first three periods.

"We just weren't aggressive tonight," said Hixson. "We weren't fighting for it and they (New Madrid) wanted it more and it showed."

The Eagles led 12-8 at the end of one period and 20-16 at halftime. Ten of their 20 points came on second chance points off of seven offensive rebounds in the half.

New Madrid expanded its lead to 10 midway through the third before the Chicks woke up and made a run.

Down, 33-23, at the 4:00 mark in the third, Blytheville exploded on an 11-2 run to end the period as the Chicks went to a full court press.

Stroughter drained back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to cut the lead to 35-29 with 2:39 left in the period.

After a Diamond bucket cut the lead to 35-31 with under thirty seconds to play, Damion Wilson stole an Eagle pass and found Raymond Golphin at the other end for a lay up, trimming the lead to 35-33.

Golphin had another big night for the Chicks. The senior forward led all scorers pouring in 23 points while grabbing 12 rebounds.

Diamond connected on one of two free throw attempts thanks to a New Madrid technical foul at the end of the period as the Chicks trailed by just one, 35-34, heading into the final frame.

McKillion opened the period by putting the Chicks in front by two at 37-35 thanks to a three-point play.

McKillion had five steals in the fourth period as Blytheville jumped out to 46-40 lead with 5:10 remaining and looked as if they'd pull away.

"We just aren't good enough right now to play two full quarters of hard basketball," said Hixson.

New Madrid may have proven him right as they ran off eight in a row to regain the lead at 48-46 with 2:12 left.

Blytheville scored just seven points over the final five minutes and after the Eagles took the lead.

After winning five in a row right before Christmas, the Chicks have now lost three of their last four games as they get ready for what should be another tough 5A-East schedule. They start things off with a long trip to Beebe, Friday night, to take on the Badgers.

"I'm really disappointed in how we came out tonight," said Hixson. "I was hoping we'd get some momentum heading into the conference season but we have some things to work on over the the next couple of days to get ready."

Friday night's action starts at 5:30 with the boys "B" game, followed by senior girls and finishing with senior high boys.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com