The Pine Bluff Zebras have done it again!
The Zebras defeated 5A South foe Benton 68-63 to repeat as Class 5A State Champions in Friday’s game at Bank OKZ Arena in Hot Springs. The Z’s finish with a 24-6 record on the year, earning the 15th state basketball title in school history.
The game was a back and forth battle with Benton leading 37-32 at halftime after Benton outscored Pine Bluff 17-2 in the first 7:25 of the second quarter before Benton star player Terrion Burgess collected his third foul.
With Burgess on the bench the Z’s finished the quarter with an 11-2 run before the half.
A 17-8 run to open the second half by the Zebras helped to even things out before Benton took a 54-52 lead at the end of the third quarter.
With Burgess and AD Gray fouling out in the fourth quarter the Z’s outscored Benton 16-9 to earn the victory.
Courtney Crutchfield was named MVP of the game for the second year in a row. He finished the night with 24 points and 6 steals.
Deriyon Graydon scored 14 with 1 steal and 1 blocked shot, followed by Jamaal Hickman with 12 points, 1 steal, and 2 blocked shots and Braylen Hall with 12 points and 1 steal. Randy Emerson, Jr. also contributed with 6 points and 2 blocked shots.
Benton’s biggest lead of the night came with 2:35 left in the second quarter when they led Pine Bluff by 14. The Zebras’ biggest lead of the night came with 12 seconds left in the game when Hall’s free throws put the Z’s up by 5.
