BEEBE -- The Blytheville Chickasaws dropped to 1-7 in the 5A-East after a hard-fought, 50-45, loss to the first place Beebe Badgers.
Blytheville (4-17, 1-7 5A-East) gave the Badgers all they could handle and had a chance to take the lead with 45 seconds remaining.
"We had the lead with just over a minute to play and then had a chance to regain the lead but we must missed two layups down the stretch that could have extended the game," said Chickasaw head coach, Jeff Flanigan. "If you would have asked me yesterday that we would have the ball with a chance to take the lead in the last minute against the first place team, I'd have said, 'I'll take it,'" said Flanigan.
The Badgers held a wide advantage at the foul line, hitting 14 of 17 attempts while the Chicks shot just two attempts, making them both.
"It was a clean game," said Flanigan. "The fouls were fouls and they made the shots and you give them credit."
Beebe led 14-9 after one period, 24-22 at halftime and 36-32 heading into the fourth. The Badgers led by as much as eight in the fourth before the Chicks made a run and took the lead with just over a minute left to play.
The Chicks shot a solid 22-39 from the field in what was one of their best showings of the season.
"We turned up the intensity in practice and the guys responded," said Flanigan. "It was one of those games where I wished we had another 30 seconds left on the clock. We have no regrets. Coach (Bill) Tyer and I talked about it afterwards, there isn't anything we would have done differently. We just came up short. If we play like this from here on out, there will be a lot to look forward to. I'm proud of these guys. They played hard and there wasn't a doubt in their mind that they could win this game."
For the game, Damion Wilson led the Chicks with 16 points, Michael Williams scored 15 and Larry Bolden chipped in 10.
The Chicks return home Tuesday night to take on the Paragould Rams at Chickasaw Gym.