Zebras celebrate as back-to-back champs
The rain held off just long enough Thursday afternoon for Pine Bluff High School to celebrate a second consecutive championship reign.
Students, faculty, staff and community leaders gathered in the school’s courtyard to honor the Zebra basketball team for winning back-to-back state championships following its 6863 victory against Benton in Hot Springs on March 8.
The band, cheerleaders and dance team performed several times to entertain the crowd. At the end of the event, a DJ played music as students danced.
Head coach Billy Dixon was one of several people to speak to the crowd, and he started by thanking a long list of people, including school administrators and parents.
“We had a lot of support, and a lot of things to come our way, and that’s what you have to have when you’re trying to build a championship program,” Dixon said. “To my guys: I know it’s been challenging. I know it’s been difficult. We’ve had our moments and times, but this is why it’s all worth it. It makes it all worth it, and I want to say to my guys, thank you very much. Let’s go Zs.”
Dixon also recognized his student-athletes for their academic accomplishments by announcing the team has a 3.5 team GPA.
Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington declared Thursday to be “Pine Bluff High School Zebra 2024 Back-to-back Championship Day” in Pine Bluff. Washington also announced the “Welcome to Pine Bluff” signs located at various entrances to the city will be updated to honor the Zebras, and a new sign will be constructed near the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
PBHS senior guards Braylen
Hall and Courtney Crutchfield thanked everyone who attended the event.
“It was a blessing for us to get us another championship,” Crutchfield said. “I mean, it ain’t been done since like, 1930-something, so that was big for this program. Next year, don’t drop it, now. Y’all gotta keep pushing, now. Go Zs.”
Other speakers included: PBHS principal Ronnieus Thompson; “Stack 3” from Power92 Jams; Pine Bluff School District Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree; state Rep. Vivian Flowers; Rosetta Giddens, the chief of staff for Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson; and PBHS student council executive president John Thompson, a senior.