From Times Sources
HOT SPRINGS — Courtney Crutchfield might have turned some Arkansas Razorback fans off when he switched his football commitment to SEC rival Missouri in December, but he made one thing for sure: He’s proud to be a Pine Bluff Zebra who played on consecutive Class 5A state championship boys basketball teams.
Crutchfield was named MVP of Friday’s 68-63 victory over Benton (29-5) when he finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
While some might not have blamed Crutchfield for not playing basketball after he signed in December and after enduring an ankle injury in a 71-50 victory over White Hall on Feb. 6, Crutchfield felt it was important to come back and help his team win another state title.
“I know I committed to the University of Missouri, but I feel I had unfinished business since I was young and I knew I could have gone to college early and played, but I feel I needed to come back and play one more time with my guys. After this, there is no more playing together,” said Crutchfield.
While Crutchfield was out, the Zebras (24-6) went 3-1 with the only loss being a 59-50 loss to Benton on Feb. 9. While Crutchfield was out, head coach Billy Dixon made it clear to his team that he didn’t want his team using Crutchfield’s absence as an excuse.
“I think these guys do what we’ve developed and when I said we can win without ‘Crutch’, I believed that. I’m not trying to be disrespectful. Those guys did what they’re trained and developed to do. We have a great program. It’s not about one person, ‘Crutch’ brings an enormous presence. We have some words back and forth, but that is supposed to happen when you are the coach,” said Dixon.
