Zebras outlast Yellowjackets for 48-44 road win
After struggling at the free throw line last season, Pine Bluff players stepped up and hit critical shots late in the game Tuesday night to pick up a gritty road win.
The Zebras overcame a hostile environment to defeat Sheridan 4844 at Yellowjacket Arena.
Pine Bluff (6-2, 2-0 in 5A-South) led 45-44 with 1:21 remaining. The Zebras missed some shots but pulled down vital offensive rebounds, forcing Sheridan to begin fouling.
Sheridan (7-3, 0-2) hadn’t committed many to that point in the fourth quarter, so it took several fouls to finally put the Zebras on the line. With 18.1 seconds to play, Pine Bluff senior Braylen Hall stepped to the free throw line, looking to extend the lead.
He made the first shot before missing the second, but fellow senior Randy Emerson grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, forcing Sheridan to foul him. He made both free throws to make it a two-possession game and clinch the victory.
Emerson said the Zebras’ offseason work helped them improve at the line.
“We came out, just working out in the gym all summer,” Emerson said. “Putting up shots, getting those free throws. It just translates into the game.”
With 4:20 to play, it didn’t look like those clutch free throws would be needed. Pine Bluff led 45-35 after 5 quick points by senior Omar Covington. Sheridan responded with a 9-0 run, thanks in part to a 3-pointer by junior Noah Romine. The Yellowjackets shot 4 of 6 from the free throw line during this run, including two makes by Romine to make it a 1-point game.
Sheridan coach Joe Scott said the Yellowjackets turned to a three-quarter court press to help drive that fourth quarter run.
“We just picked up our intensity just a little bit more,” Scott said. “We’ve been saving that 2-2-1 press in our back pocket, and we kind of caught them off guard. Forced three-straight turnovers out of it. We were a little bit better in transition offense. Really, with us, it’s just about pride. It’s just about playing extremely hard, and we did. We left it all out on the court.”
Romine led all scorers with 23 points, while Emerson led Pine Bluff with 16. No other players reached double digits for either side.
The Zebras started cold in each of their three games over the weekend at the Charles Ripley Classic, but Pine Bluff didn’t have that same issue Tuesday. The Zebras scored the game’s first 8 points before Canon Crosswhite got Sheridan on the board with a 3-pointer. Pine Bluff led 15-8 later in the quarter, but Sheridan rallied and tied it at 15 on a buzzer-beating layup by Nathan Carter.
Pine Bluff coach Billy Dixon said he talked with his team about those slow starts.
“We talked about coming out with some energy, and that’s what we did,” Dixon said. “Even from the bench. I think my bench has been kind of dry and dead for me, so to come out with an 8-0 run, that was good. To get up at the point that we were, I thought that was good.”
Courtney Crutchfield gave Pine Bluff the lead back early in the second quarter with a powerful one-handed dunk, and the Zebras led the rest of the night.