By AARON FITZPATRICK
Special to The Leader
Blytheville survived a last-second scare and knocked off Beebe 45-43 in the 5A-East opener at Blytheville on Friday.
“We’ve got a tough conference this year and it’s good to get that first one out of the way,” Blytheville coach Melissa Young said.
With four seconds left in the game, Blytheville’s Sharmaine Selvy missed a free throw and Beebe’s Jamie Jackson got the rebound. Jackson dribbled upcourt and made a three-point shot as time expired, but the shot was waved off because officials ruled it came after the buzzer had sounded.
“I looked at the clock and I knew it was going to be close,” Young said. “I just waved my arms and hoped we would get the call.”
Beebe led 12-10 after one period and extended its lead to 20-12 midway through the second quarter before the Lady Chicks came to life.
Alicia Stone hit consecutive three pointers as Blytheville (5-6, 1-0) started an 8-0 run to tie it 20-20 with two minutes left in the half. It was tied 22-22 at halftime.
Stone continued with the hot hand in the second half hitting back-to-back three-pointers midway through the period to give the Lady Chicks a 36-28 lead with 3:25 left in the third period.
Beebe scored the last six points of the quarter, highlighted by a three pointer from Whitney Emison, to cut the lead to 36-34.
Beebe continued its runinto the final quarter. The Lady Badgers, coming off their holiday tournament, scored six of the first seven points to take a 40-37 lead with 3:05 left in the game.
Andrea Robinson tied it 40-40 with 2:20 left.
Stone scored the next five points for the Lady Chicks to make it 45-40 Blytheville with 1:43 remaining.
Shaylyn Young and Sarah White each hit a free throw over the final minute.
Blytheville went 2 for 7 from the line in the fourth quarter.
“Alicia played really well tonight,” Young said.
“She’s been hitting her threes more consistently and she really did well tonight. We just need to get more production from everyone else.”
Stone led all scorers with 23 as she made five three-pointers and Sharmaine Selvy added 17 points.
Jackson, a sophomore and Beebe’s scoring leader, led the Lady Badgers with 14 points and Young had 11.
