BLYTHEVILLE -- With a record of 2-5 at the halfway point in 5A-East play, the Blytheville Chickasaws knew they had to beat a lot of teams in the second half of the season that have already beaten them if they want to make it to the state tournament. The Beebe Badgers are the first on that list to fall as the Chicks pulled out a tough, 45-42, win Friday night at Chickasaw Gym.
"This was huge," said Blytheville head coach David Hixson. "It's one of those monumental wins to beat a team that's ahead of you ... you don't want to get behind two games to the fourth place team."
The Chicks (11-11, 3-5 5A-East) came in tied for fifth with Wynne and Batesville and a game behind fourth place Nettleton (3-4 5A-East) which was at Wynne taking on the 2-5 Yellowjackets.
Ke'Andre Diamond (16 points, five rebounds and 9-10 from the free throw line) knocked down seven of eight free throw attempts in the final three minutes to help the Chicks seal the deal as Blytheville avenged a 46-26 loss to the Badgers earlier in the season.
Beebe (14-6, 5-3 5A-East) jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead before Michael Bell got things going for Blytheville with a three pointer at the 3:00 mark of the first period. The Chicks ended the period on a 10-0 run and took a 12-8 lead into the second period.
Bell extended the Chicks lead to five, at 17-11, with another bomb from beyond the arc with 2:10 to play in the half. It was just the second Blytheville basket of the period and only the third by either team in six minutes of play. Defense is always at the forefront of a contest against Beebe and Friday night, the Chicks were up to the challenge.
"We knew we'd shoot better than the last time we played them," said Hixson. "We couldn't do any worse. But it was our defense was the difference in this game. We did a tremendous job guarding them and getting defensive rebounds. Other than a few times late in the game, we did what we had to do to keep them at bay."
Beebe finished the half on a 7-2 run. Brandon Fuller's three pointer at the buzzer cut the Chicks lead to one, at 19-18, heading into the locker room.
Blytheville's defense continued to smother the bewildered Badgers as the Chicks held them to just eight points in the period. For the game the Chicks did not allow any Badger player to post double figures in scoring.
"We confused them a little bit," said Hixson who was without backup post man Larry Bolden. Hixson had just two true post players, Greg McKillion and Raymond Golphin, and had to use creative lineups to get his players rest. "We went to a true matchup zone. Sometimes we went to a three-guard set. I had to do that to get our guys some rest. We got away with it tonight. There were times when we used three guards that I think we played better than when we had our usual sets."
Along with Diamond and Bell, Hixson rotated Shaquile Smith, Damion Wilson and Harold Beverly through the guard positions throughout the night. It was a relatively small, but quick, lineup against a larger and wider Badger front. Late in the third, Hixson used Smith, Wilson and Beverly and the Chicks finished the period on a 5-1 run. Smith nailed a three-pointer as time expired in the period to give Blytheville a 32-26 lead heading into the final frame.
Bell (11 points and five steals) continued the Chicks' run into the fourth period, this time from the defensive side. His open court steal led to a break away layup on the other end. Two minutes later, Golphin grabbed a loose ball and found a wide open McKillion at the other end for a one-handed slam giving the Chicks their largest lead of the night at 38-31 with 5:08 to play in the game. McKillion appeared at full strength, at least physically on defense. The 6'5" center only scored three points but grabbed eight rebounds and blocked seven shots while altering a host of others throughout the night.
Beebe made one more run at the Chicks. Fuller's (eight points) basket with 2:22 left cut trimmed Blytheville's lead to two points at 40-38 but the Chicks defense did not allow another Badger basket until the closing moments when the game was in hand. The defensive clincher came with 18 seconds left and Blytheville leading, 43-39. Zack May lifted a three pointer from the corner but could not get it over the outstretched arm of McKillion who sent the shot into the fourth row of the stands for his seventh and final block of the night. Jake Schlenker missed a final three point attempt moments later. Diamond came up with the rebound and was fouled. He knocked down the two free throws to clinch the win five seconds left in the game.
"We always came up with a stop when we needed it and a shot when we needed it," said Hixson. "Ke'Andre (Diamond) stepped up for us again at the end."
Not only was the victory huge for the Chicks but the way the won it was just as important.
"This one could have gone either way," said Hixson. "We've been on the other side of games like this all year long it seems. It was good for our kids to be on a side other than the ones we've been on. It was a change of fortune for us. The morale should improve after a game like this."
Blytheville will get another shot at a team who has already beaten them this year Tuesday night at Paragould.
GIRLS
Beebe 64, Blytheville 40
Beebe jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first period and never looked back on their way to a 64-40 win over the Blytheville Lady Chickasaws Friday night.
The Lady Badgers held Blytheville to just one field goal in the first period and three for the entire first period and led 33-16 at the break.
Iesha Humphrey scored the first 14 points for Blytheville, who were without leading scorer Alicia Stone, on her way to a game-high 24.
Beebe extended their lead to 28 by the end of the third and cruised to the victory.
Along with Humphrey, Taylor Woodruff and Sherri Palmore each scored six points a piece for the Lady Chicks.
Jamie Jackson led the Lady Badgers with 17 points and Kalela Mille added 11.