Bears beaten, but unforgettable forever

 

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

 

Last year, the Butler County Bears did the unthinkable to many. And the “Why Not Us” team slogan fit solid for a group of young men who carried BCHS to its first KHSAA Sweet Sixteen berth in school history. Unfortunately, the “We > Me” slogan will not take them back to Rupp Arena—not that a slogan takes you anywhere.

Behind from the rip, the Bears would gather burst of momentum all throughout, nearly getting the score tied in this knock-down, drag-out. Regrettably, those surges would get answered by the Daviess County Panthers, who would pull back ahead more comfortably and advance onto the semifinals, winning 67-57.

Butler County had to take their first timeout with over three minutes left in the first quarter, down 9-2. Briar Griffin’s rebound put back accounted for the Bears’ only score. Then, the Panthers pushed out to an eleven-point advantage resulting from more turnovers and missed shots by the Bears, who shot 36% from the floor in the game.

Curtis Murphy would rattle home his first three-pointer of the evening prior to Justin Castlen erupting the crowd at the buzzer when he raced across half court to bury a heave, bringing the Bears within five after one period of play.

 

 

Castlen’s shot, surprisingly his only points of the night, paralyzed the moment while presenting an opportunistic run for the Bears; however, the Panthers, who shot 55% as a team, stood their ground. All five starters for Daviess reached double figures in their balanced attack.

Ty Price would follow his own miss for a basket and hit one beyond the arc to keep the Bears within striking distance early in the second. Murphy’s baseline finish plus Griffin’s steal and score crept the Bears within four.

Thereafter, Coach Dockery was rallying on the wave of blue in the Sportscenter of Owensboro as the Panthers got a late first half timeout. But Ayden Ayer and Jaxon Brown drained daggers in the last minute before gathering in the locker rooms.

Down by ten, the Bears looked nearly flawless coming out in the second half of action. Price and Griffin combined for ten points while each found Trevor Deweese for buckets as Butler County went on a 15-8 run to start the third quarter.

A brief melee came about when Case Hooten reached in on DeAaron Watkins. Hooten, who had just forced a ten-second backcourt violation on the possession prior, indicated no retaliation after the big man threw the ball at him.

Castlen, who played stellar defense on Watkins in the game, stepped in for Hooten. Repercussions were not issued as Watkins continued to mouth while being restrained by a teammate. Watkins went on tormenting the Bears in the paint.

Butler’s aggressiveness aided four trips to the charity stripe in the last half of the third period for the Panthers, who shot 20/22 in the game at the line. In comparison, Butler County shot one free throw through the first three quarters and only seven for the entire game.

Despite being down eight going into the final quarter, Butler County continued to crash the glass and swipe at every ball presented to possibly steal. They forced an early timeout in the fourth and a five-second call pursued thereafter. Price threw in a dart before Griffin kept the next possession alive. Deweese tipped in a Price miss to get back within five.

 

 

After the Panthers settled back down on offense and thrust the margin back to nine, Hooten grabbed an offensive rebound to score. Price would nail another three-pointer after Deweese disturbed Moss, who was 12/12 at the line, without a whistle on a shot for once. Griffin hit two freebies to make the game 55-53, with two and a half minutes remaining.

Sadly, that was as close as it would get down the stretch. Moss would convert a one-and-one on the Panthers’ next trip and the Bears would turn it over. Watkins delivered a lay in and the Panthers would hold off the Bears from there hitting four more free throws in the final minute.

Unforgettable moments have been accomplished by this especially talented group of senior basketball players. Everyone will talk about what could have been if the injuries not occurred in order to prove “We > Me” and the Bears brought a state title back to Morgantown.

Regardless, these young men have changed lives in Butler County. The copiousness of basketball-craze created continues to compound in our childhood community. Generations of fans, young and old, have shown an abundance of appreciation and support. It has been a sensational experience. It is not something that happens on a regular basis; and it may not happen again in the remaining lifetime of many.

 

Butler                    10           9             22           16           57

Daviess                 15           14           20           18           67

BC—Price 24, Griffin 11, Deweese 9, Murphy 8,

Castlen 3, Hooten 2

DC—Moss 20, Ayer 16, Watkins 11, Brown 10,

Varble 10