Bears aggressive in first appearance

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

The Butler County Bears, who won their first 3^rd Region Championship last season, put on an early showcase of what will be another exuberating year of basketball on this past Friday night when former Mr. Basketball and UK player, Brandon Stockton, brought his Scotties over to Morgantown from Glasgow.  Glasgow was 11-17 overall last season; nonetheless, they were crowned 15^th District Champs and beat Metcalfe in the 4^th Region Tournament before bowing out to the Warren Central Dragons, who triumphed for the third straight year in the 4^th.

The 23-9, battled-tested Bears from last season, swept the 12^th District and 3^rd Region not losing a game.  They hope to make another trip to Lexington this year.  That feat is somewhat being discussed as more difficult since WKU commit and BCHS senior Lawson Rice went down with a season-ending knee injury.  Losing Rice’s paint presence and rebounding is significant, but his ability to start the transition and finish on the offensive-end may be just as paramount.

Coach Dockery’s game plan hardly waivers.  The Bears demonstrated perfect execution of that in the first sighting before extremely excited Butler County fans throughout the first preseason scrimmage while battling the Scotties, who are very athletic themselves.  The JV took the hardwood first with a running clock, two 15-minute halves before the varsity played a regular eight-minute, four quarters of basketball, but resetting the score after each quarter.

Bears JV came away with a narrow victory behind a monstrous performance by Cainan Vincent, who is a sophomore with some varsity experience.  Vincent’s interior play was on point, finishing several old-fashioned three-point plays. Oak Ridge Christian Academy transfer sophomore, Eli Oaks, canned a few beyond the arc to join Vincent in double-digit scoring in the 41-38, JV win.

 

 

Varsity action was fast from the start with the Bears doing what they do, pressuring the ball to get transition buckets while finding the open man and knocking down the three-ball in half-court sets.  A Briar Griffin steal and pass to Ty Price, both returning seniors that anchor the back court of the Bears, started the contest.  Much of the first period, a 28-10 dismantling by the Bears, Price and Griffin showcased their point-guard abilities by distributing the rock to multiple teammates.

Griffin, who had a 10 point/10 assist night, picked up his third personal ending the first, forcing him to sit.  However, Price still found multiple hoopsters for scores.  Case Hooten started the second on a quick dime from the UT-Martin commit, who completed the night with 44 points.  Trever Deweese, who finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, setup beyond the arc to bang a three on a feed from Price, also.  Vincent, who saw some varsity minutes, licked his chops on another down low.  The Bears outscored Glasgow 22-14 in the second.

Griffin, a tenacious on-ball defender, got back into action dealing treats to his hombres after the break.  Price drained two and Deweese sank another three-ball on darts thrown from Griffin.  Price, who had nine assists, returned the favor when he found an open Griffin for a corner trey.  With just seconds left in the third, Price blew underneath Scottie’s armpit with a baseline, swivel-move for an and-one to take the 25-14 advantage.

 

 

Curtis Murphy, who had initially replaced Rice in last year’s lineup, hit a couple three’s in the game.  Clayton Deweese, who played crucial minutes off the bench last season, brought his physicality and scored about a half-dozen along with Hooten, who plays bigger than he is plus pesky on defense.

The Bears outscored the Scotties 95-63 for the entire game and placed eight in the scoring column.  The bench appears deep; in addition, it should be a strength for the Bears this season.  Senior starter, Justin Castlen, who swiped several passes and did his due diligence on the boards, was the fourth Bears’ player in double-digits, scoring ten despite being in some foul trouble.

These Bears are hungry to keep their reign in the 3^rd Region, which has some talented competition.  Daviess County, who gave the Bears their money’s worth in the opening round of the Region Tournament, will return their nucleus.  Owensboro Catholic plus 12^th District foe, Grayson County, will be ready to tangle with anyone.  Of course, Owensboro always has an athletic group; and, Muhlenberg County may have gotten better with the Gunnar Revelett transfer from McLean County.  Third Region and Bears basketball will be entertaining!