Class 5A Finals: Pine Bluff boys go back-to-back; Greenwood girls three-peat
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – After three tightly contested periods of play, Pine Bluff outscored Benton 16-9 in the fourth quarter to capture their second straight Class 5A boys state championship, winning 68-63 Friday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
The victory secured the Zebra’s 15th state title in program history and the team won back-to-back titles for the first time since winning three in a row from 1933-35.
Senior guard and Missouri football signee Courtney Crutchfield led Pine Bluff with 24 points and seven rebounds.
Benton, playing in their first state final since 2008, fell just short of their first-ever state basketball title – boys or girls – in school history. The Panthers were led by junior forward Terrion Burgess, who scored 27 points and collected eight rebounds in the five-point loss.
Greenwood girls had a 12-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The Lady Bulldogs won their third consecutive Class 5A title, beating Vilonia 77-51 Friday afternoon. The victory gave Greenwood its fourth state championship in the last five seasons.
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