Arkansas high school boys basketball state tournament final live updates: Benton vs. Pine Bluff
HOT SPRINGS – Pine Bluff fell twice to Benton in 5A-South play during the regular season, but the Z's saved their most impressive performance for the most important time and edged their 5A-South foe 68-63.
The victory earned Pine Bluff (24-6) its second straight state championship and 15th in program history. It was close throughout, as all four quarters were single-digit deficits.
Missouri football signee Courtney Crutchfield, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 steals. 12 of those points were from the free-throw line. Deriyon Graydon had 14 for the Z's, while Jamaal Hickman was also in double digits with 12.
Up by two after the first, Benton (29-5) began to separate itself from the Z's, up 35-21 with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. A valiant rally by Pine Bluff was capped by a buzzer-beater by senior Braylen Hall.
Both teams did struggle at times to take care of the ball, but the Z's won the turnover battle, forcing the Panthers to give it up 22 times.
Benton four-star prospect Terrion Burgess led all scorers with 27 points, while Harrison Pickett added 21 for the Panthers.
See previous live updates below.
Final: Pine Bluff 68-63
Pine Bluff rebounds from two earlier season losses to Benton and wins its second straight 5A state title.
4th Qtr: Pine Bluff 67-63, :25
While no lead is safe in this one, the Z's currently have the advantage and will get the ball following a timeout by Benton after a foul was called on Javarious Russell. A free throw by Hall puts the Z's lead at two possessions.
4th Qtr: Pine Bluff 65-63, 1:30
Pickett responds with a layup of his own to tie the game, but another layup and one by Jamaal Hickman gives the Z's the 14th lead change of the game.
4th Qtr: Pine Bluff 62-61, 1:50
Crutchfield is fouled on a fast break layup and connects on the and-one.
4th Qtr: Benton 61-60, 3:37
The Panthers hold a one-point advantage as Benton's calls time again
4th Qtr: Benton 60-58, 4:40
Benton started to extend the lead, but, per usual, Pine Bluff responded again. Another timeout by the Panthers.
End of 3rd Qtr: Benton 54-52
It's been a dog fight and Benton claimed the 12th lead change of the afternoon as we head to the fourth. Pickett scored 10 of Benton's points in the third and has 19, second to only Burgess' 23 in the game. Crutchfield is up to 18 for the Z's, followed by Graydon with 14. Both are shooting around 45% from the field.
3rd Qtr: 49-45, 2:21
After the Z's took the lead back, Crutchfield gives them a little more cushion after connecting on consecutive free throws. However, he is up to three fouls.
3rd Qtr: Tied 45-45, 3:14
Pickett's three-pointer at the top of the key ties it up again.
3rd Qtr: Pine Bluff 45-42, 3:30
Z's regain the lead, and momentum, following fastbreak layups by Crutchfield and Jamaal Hickman, forcing Benton to call another timeout.
3rd Qtr: Benton 39-37, 5:47
Benton regains the lead on a bucket by Pickett and Panthers head coach Dexter Hendrix calls time.
3rd Qtr: Tied 37-37, 6:06
The Z's have kept up their late second quarter surge and tie it up on a lay in by Graydon.
Halftime: Benton 37-32
Benton dominated most of the second, but the Z's closed the gap as Braylen Hall connected on a jumper at the buzzer. Burgess had 12 in the frame, and is up to 16 total, but has three fouls. Crutchfield leads the Z's with 14.
Both squads have double-digit turnovers, but the glaring stat is Benton connecting on 3-of-6 shots from three-point range, compared to Benton who is 0-of-8. It's getting chippy, as evidenced by the teams chirping at each other heading into their locker rooms.
2nd Qtr: Benton 35-21, 2:36
Excluding a free throw by Crutchfield at the 6:51 mark, Pine Bluff has not scored in the quarter, meanwhile Benton is connecting on 52% of its shots from the field.
2nd Qtr: Benton 29-21, 3:58
The Panthers took the lead 30 seconds into the quarter on a three-pointer by Burgess and continue building on it. Burgess has scored eight for Benton in this frame. Media timeout.
2nd Qtr: Benton 25-21, 6:39
Terrion Burgess has taken over to start the second, scoring Benton's last seven points.
End of 1st Qtr: Pine Bluff 20-18
There were eight lead changes in the first and a putback by Missouri football signee Courtney Crutchfield right before the horn gave the Z's a slight advantage. Crutchfield and Graydon have seven points for Pine Bluff, while Harrison Pickett also has seven for the Panthers.
1st Qtr: Benton 12-11, 3:42
A slam dunk by Graydon gives the lead back to Benton, but Harrison Pickett's jumper gives it right back to the Panthers.
1st Qtr: Benton 10-9, 3:53
It has been very balanced for both teams at the media timeout as four from each squad have scored.
1st Qtr: Tied 6-6, 5:19
After some back-and forth, Deriyon Graydon's free throw ties it up after Benton took the lead via Elem Shleby's three-pointer.
We are underway.
(Photos by Tommy Land)
-- Kyle Sutherland | kyle@scorebooklive.com | @k_sutherlandAR
