Chicks lose another close one at home

The Blytheville Chickasaws have played two conference home games this season and have now lost both by a total of four points.

The Chicks followed up their 5A-East opening night, 57-55, overtime loss to Valley View 10 days ago with a 49-47 loss to Nettleton Tuesday night in regulation at Chickasaw Gym.

Robert Moss buried a three-pointer with 6:50 to play in the fourth period to give Blytheville (8-7, 1-3 5A-East) a 35-30 lead.

The five-point advantage was the largest lead of the game for either team in the back-and-forth contest and looked to give Blytheville a little bit of breathing room.

Nettleton had an answer to the Chicks lead in guard, Silas Finch, who scored nine straight points for the Raiders to get them back in the game and a one-point lead with 4:10 to play.

A bucket by Moss with 3:20 to play gave the Chicks a 40-39 lead but the Raiders responded with a shot of their own and never trailed again.

Finch gave Nettleton a 45-40 lead with a minute to play. Issac Kelly kept the Chicks within striking distance with three-pointers on consecutive Chickasaw possession but they could never cut the deficit to within a possession. The Raiders sealed the deal at the foul line hitting eight of 11 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch. Finch scored 11 of his game-high 20 points down the stretch as the Raiders escaped with their first 5A East win of the season.

"He (Finch) just became more aggressive," said Chickasaw head coach Jason James. "He started attacking the paint and made some tough ones. He started looking to create opportunities for himself and we were having a hard time guarding him."

Both teams appeared more aggressive on the offensive end in the fourth period in contrast to the first three frames. Combined, the two teams matched their entire first half output in the final eight minutes of play.

Nettleton led 10-6 after the first period and the score was tied, 19-19 at halftime. Blytheville led, 32-28, heading into the fourth.

"You've got to make winning happen," said James. "Just because you're up five doesn't mean a team is going to stop playing. We've got a lot of stuff we've got to clean up if we want to be successful down the stretch."

For the game, Moss led the Chicks with 13 points, Kelly added 12, Patrick Beasley scored eight and Merrendes Jackson chipped in seven.

Finch led all scorers with 20 for the Raiders and Wesley Anderson added 11.

Blytheville will host the Wynne Yellowjackets Friday night at Chickasaw Gym

GIRLS

Nettleton 64, Blytheville 36

The Blytheville Lady Chickasaws are still looking for their first conference win of the season after a 64-36 loss to the Nettleton Lady Raiders Tuesday night.

Nettleton led 21-11 after the first period, 31-21 at halftime and 52-26 heading into the fourth.

Dejah Prude led the Lady Chickasaws with 17 points and Tamara Rogers added 11.

Ali Tuckers scored 11 of her game hit 21 points including three three pointers in the first period to lead the Lady Raiders and Tashcansci Walker added 11.

Blytheville's Tamara Rogers dribbles up the court Tuesday night against Nettleton.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com