Chicks finish regional runner-up

Blytheville’s late game efforts came up just short March 6 as they fell to the Little Rock Mills Comets 54-52 in the 4A East Regional final at a sold-out Chickasaw Arena.

After being ahead as much as 10 points early in the third, offensive rebounds helped the Comets regain composure and battle back. Mills took their first lead of the game late in the quarter, but Blytheville got a putback score of their own from Lamont Jackson to keep the Chicks ahead 37-36.

Blytheville’s offense hit a drought from there however, as the Comets continued to thrive in the paint. Offensive rebounds piled up for Mills as they took control of the game to start the fourth. This sparked an 9-0 run, putting the Comets ahead 45-37 with just under four minutes remaining.

After going scoreless for the opening four minutes of the final quarter, Blytheville finally broke the seal on score down low from Johnny Anderson.

The two teams exchanged crowd-rocking buckets from there, sending both sides into a frenzy. Down 6, a stepback triple from Jackson got Blytheville’s deficit back down to one possession with around 3 minutes left.

A rim-rocking dunk from Jakari Livingston of the Comets followed, but Blytheville answered back with a fast break score. Still, the Comets’ inside presence continued to shine through as they went back ahead 51-46, forcing a Blytheville timeout.

Ty’reonn King nailed a three from the top of the key on the next possession, bringing the lead down to two. However, another score inside kept Mills in control and helped them close out the game as time ran out on the Chicks’ comeback.

“We’ve got to get our poise a little bit better,” Blytheville head coach McKenzie Pierce said. “Particularly in the third when they started making their run, we kind of lost our cool. And that combined with not rebounding the ball very well and missing a lot of free throws, isn’t a very good recipe.”

Free throw woes played a big factor in this contest as the Comets made their run to take the lead.

Blytheville missed five shots at the line early in the fourth, looking for the first points of the quarter.

“Brian [Jones] missed like four of five in a row at one point and he’s our leading free throw shooter on the year,” Pierce said. “He’s made the most and shot the highest percentage. We went undefeated in conference and he hit two free throws with time expired at Brookland to win the game. So next time he’s up there we’re going to feel good. If it’s late in a game and we’re up and [the other team] is trying to foul, we’re going to get him the ball and he’s going to go make them. [Tonight] was just one of those nights.”

With the state tournament next week, Pierce and the Chicks are still moving ahead with confidence.

“If we go do what we’re supposed to next week, we’re going to have to see each other again to get to Hot Springs.”

Jackson finished the game with a team-high 20 points, followed by Johnny Anderson with 17.

The Chicks are now set for a matchup with the Dardanelle Sand Lizards March 7 in Morrilton.