Lady Bears’ season ends to Grayson County

 

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

 

Butler County’s defensive game plan was well executed in the finale on the opening night of the 12^th District Tournament in Whitesville on Monday night last week. Coach Lexie Belcher’s players provided help defense on Breigh Jones, who was tightly guarded by Ann Marie Skaggs and Bailey Moore all throughout the game.

Ava Wilson got the Lady Bears in front with the first score of the game. Unfortunately, that would be the only time. Grayson County went on to outscore Butler 14-3 for the remainder of the first as Wilson could not draw a foul in the paint and the Lady Bears could not find a bucket elsewise. Jenna Tomes made a nice feed where Wilson could get it off cleanly only one more time during the first.

It seemed as if fouls were tightly called at times; whereas, not so much at other times in the eyes of many Lady Bears fans. Maybe some obvious that were not whistled while touchy ones on other occasions stopped play from those watching the game. It did not fare well in Butler’s strategy despite Wilson still pouring in points in the middle with two and-ones early in the second.

Credit to the Lady Cougars who made shots (44% from the floor and 32% from beyond the arc) regardless of an aggressive attack by Coach Belcher’s girls. The Lady Bears may have gotten the benefit from the charity stripe in the second, also. Nonetheless, Jones scored the last five points of the quarter to send the home team into the locker room up, 35-20.

In the third, the Lady Bears closed the margin just a little. Moore buried a trey to start the fourth quarter, and it was the moment to make a run; but, foul trouble started taking its toll. Butler County managed to claw back within nine points late in the fourth on a Karrington Hunt three-pointer.

Ultimately, Jones finished off the Lady Bears at the free-throw line, where she went 15/16 to lead all scorers with 28 points. Wilson, who scored her 1000^th career point in the game, led the Lady Bears with 17 points. Hunt contributed ten points, just a bit more than her average. Skaggs, who would foul out in the fourth, ended the night with eight in the scoring column.

 

 

Joining Skaggs late in the game, Moore played her last time as a Lady Bear and joined her after they both gave it all on the floor. Moore, who recently announced she was staying locally to play basketball at Brescia University in Owensboro, finished the night with seven points. It would not be surprising, if possible, the athletic Moore won’t be playing soccer with the Lady Cats, also.

Freshman, Carley Cardwell, who scored two points, finished out the Lady Bears scoring and those getting too many fouls. With justification, some of Cardwell’s may have been in retaliation. The freshman, like Moore, is going to see a lot of opportunities because of her athleticism. Harnessing her horsepower to use explosively over the coming years has to be exciting for Coach Belcher.

Not only does Butler County return a huge senior class for next season, but the program also has some ability in the underclass to develop furthermore. Unfortunately, for one of those upcoming seniors, Tinslea Belcher, who did not play in the second half against Grayson, it was discovered she will need another surgery on her shoulder.

It is unfair what some athletes endure. Belcher, who also plays softball and will miss this season, has had more than her fair share of injuries. She had fought her way back to play this season after a knee-injury took her sophomore season. One would understand, after so much adversity, how easy it would be to not play sports again. Regardless, that determination will take an individual to success in life. Even more of what sports is all about.

Many of these young ladies are already on the softball field with basketball no longer a focus; however, expect this group of basketball girls to work hard in the offseason when softball ends. Butler County Lady Bears basketball should continue to stay competitive in the future. Thanks to all the players and coaches for this year’s season.