Blytheville secures fifth straight conference crown

Over the week, the Chickasaws (27-1, 16-0) put a bow on one of the most successful seasons in school history. Victories over Wynne on Tuesday, Trumann on Wednesday and Pocahontas on Thursday to put the final touches on a third straight undefeated conference season.

Senior night celebrations covered the Arena on Wednesday to recognize a group that has never ended a season without the regular season crown. But the most important loss that group has evaded is away from the court. Since meeting them as elementary kids, beach coach McKenzie Pierce noted that the group has never lost their bond with one another.

“It’s just a special group. [Their success] speaks a lot to the group and to the program. They asked me earlier what stands out the most compared to other groups. And I think it’s just how much they love each other. You always say you love your teammates, but the senior group genuinely loves one another. They hang out outside of the gym, they fight for each other and care about each other. A lot of people say those things but not a lot actually do those things,” Pierce said.

Obviously they’re tremendous basketball players but they’re really good people and they’ve grown up a lot. When I first got to Blytheville seven years ago, they were in the sixth grade. So this is kind of like my first group to see go from elementary all the way up. It’s really wild to even think about seven years ago. I probably didn’t even think I’d be here this long to even coach them. But it’s been a wonderful ride to watch them grow up as young men and basketball players. Hopefully we’ve got plenty of memories left this year, and I look forward to that, and seeing where basketball and life take them in the future.”

Blytheville added plenty of memories to the list in the final home game, delivering a 75-43 win for the Chickasaw faithful. From the opening tap, their bonds off the floor shined through on the court. Their identity of high ball pressure forced the Wildcats into tough shots and kick started the Blytheville offense. Following the opening frame, they held a 16-6 lead that included four slams from senior Rashaud Marshall.

They showed no signs of letting up as their lead ballooned to 20 before the halftime break. They opened the second quarter with a steal and breakaway layup for senior Makai Handy and an and-1 in the post from junior Travis Anderson.

But the group's bread and butter on this night was Marshall. With his future head coach Kermit Davis in attendance, Marshall’s teammates had no issues finding him and delivering a host of assists.

And the win delivered Blytheville’s fifth consecutive conference title.

There’s been plenty of change over that span and before, but Pierce noted the most significant change he’s seen has come from the student-athletes.

“Seven years is a long time, especially in the coaching world, but I think the biggest thing has just been the buy-in. It started with the group back then that was seniors. The one thing that people always compliment us on the most is playing team basketball. That wasn’t something that was taking place when I first got here. During the summers and going to camps, it’s just been buy-in from the kids first and then the community. Look at the things that have happened over the years. When I took over we made it to the state tournament for the first time in seven years. And hopefully now it’ll be seven straight years of making it back,” Pierce said.

“If you look at it by record and accomplishment, we’ve literally gotten better each year. There’s just one more thing left for us to do and hopefully we can stay hungry, stay healthy and give ourselves a good shot at it.”