The Blytheville Chickasaws (1-1) were narrowly defeated, 59-56, by 6A powerhouse the Pine Bluff Zebra in the opening round of the 33rd Annual Barry Pruitt Classic at Don Riggs Hurricane Gymnasium on Thursday. Senior guard Treay Jamison found classmate Michael Caruthers to get the scoring started for the Chickasaws. However, Zebra senior guard Kendrick Thorn knocked down three long-range three-pointers early in the first quarter. Caruthers left the Zebra’s defense in the dust and slammed it home with 3:25 left in the quarter to cut the Pine Bluff lead to one. Chickasaw junior forward Winston Peace drew a charge at the 1:35 mark to get the ball for the Chicks. With 0.6 left on the clock, Peace missed a deep three to end the first quarter with the Zebras leading 18-13. BHS stormed back quickly with a Caruthers three-pointer and a Caruthers dish to Peace to tie the game at 18 at the 7:15 mark. The Chicks led the game with 1:10 left in the second quarter but the Zebras rattled off four quick points in the final seconds of the half to take a 34-29 lead into the break. At 5:23, a Zebra player was headed down the lane to score; however, Peace sent the ball into the second row of bleachers. The Chickasaws and Zebras were tied at 42 heading into the final quarter of play. Jamison found the bank when hitting a big three-pointer with 2:30 left in the game to give the Chickasaws a 53-50 lead. Chicks senior guard Tony Newmy, Jr. increased the Chicks lead to four with a free throw, but the Chicks went cold until 5.5 seconds left in the game when Jamison went two for two from the line to cut the Zebra lead back to one. Chickasaws head coach McKenzie Pierce called a timeout and stressed to foul if they couldn’t get the ball back. The Chicks fouled Thorn with 4.1 left and he connected on both attempts from the line. Jamison would try to force overtime with a deep three-point basket that missed by inches as the buzzer sounded. Newmy led the scoring for the Chickasaws with 19 points. Peace chipped in 18 points, Caruthers added nine points, Jamison added eight points and Jaurous Haynes chipped in two points. Thorne led the Zebras with 25 points. The Chickasaws went to the loser side of the Barry Pruitt Classic bracket and faced Jacksonville Lighthouse Wolves on Friday, winning 71-28. Blytheville will play the winner of Jonesboro Westside/Batesville Southside at 3p.m. on Saturday (fifth place game).