Yates’ game-winning shot sends Texas team to title
KING COTTON HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT BEAUMONT (TEXAS) UNITED 53, PINE BLUFF 52
PINE BLUFF — Wesley Yates III made certain that Beaumont (Texas) United’s trip to Pine Bluff in 2022 was much better than the one it made in 2021.
The senior guard nailed an off-balanced 10-footer with one second left to propel the Timberwolves to a thrilling 53-52 victory over Pine Bluff in the King bracket final at the King Cotton Holiday Tournament in front of a huge crowd at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
The basket erased any lingering memories Beaumont United (17-1) had of last year when it lost 82-72 to North Little Rock in the title game.
“We didn’t want to go home without the win,” said Yates, who finished with 18 points and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. “I just want to thank my teammates for trusting me with the ball. We didn’t want to leave without that championship.”
That title was in serious jeopardy one possession earlier when Yates turned the ball over with 23.6 seconds left. That mistake led to a free throw opportunity for Pine Bluff’s Jordon Harris, who hit the back end of a two-shot foul with 21.1 seconds left to put the Zebras up by one.
On the Timberwolves’ ensuing trip, Pine Bluff (9-6) didn’t allow Yates to get the ball, which forced Beaumont United Coach David Green to spend a timeout.
However, the Washington signee did retrieve the ball on the following inbound pass and nearly lost control of it near the top of the key before regaining his footing and lofting his game-winner over two Zebra defenders.
Yates got plenty of help, too. Trealyn Porchia had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks, while Kayde Dotson had 13 points. The two combined for 22 first-half points.
Courtney Crutchfield scored 23 points, and Jordon Harris ended with nine points and eight rebounds for the Zebras, who hurt themselves by missing two late free throws that could’ve extended their lead.
“That’s been an issue for us all year,” Pine Bluff Coach Billy Dixon said of his team’s free-throw woes. “We shoot 52% on the season, take about 27 or 28 a game. We make 12 [Thursday]. … That hurt us.”
Pine Bluff, which hit 12 of its 21 free throws, did dart out the gates fast when Crutchfield broke free for an easy dunk off the opening tip. The Zebras continued to play at that feverish pace the entire half and regularly hit back quickly whenever Beaumont United made a move.
A long jumper from Dotson with 1:47 left in the first quarter gave the Timberwolves a 13-12 lead, but a 23-footer from the Zebras’ X’Zaevion Barnett started a 9-2 spurt that carried over into the second quarter.
A short jumper from Crutchfield later handed Pine Bluff a 21-15 advantage — its biggest of the first half — with 6:14 to go in the second quarter, but Beaumont United didn’t let that gap widen. Instead, it built a small one of its own.
Porchia and the Timberwolves began attacking the interior and got the Zebras in foul trouble during the final five minutes of the quarter. Porchia went 7 of 9 from the free-throw line over that stretch and guided Beaumont United into halftime with a slim 30-29 lead.