Above: Freshman Kettarious Bouchum dunks against Pratt in the second round of the Region IV Tournament at Hartman Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Beavers with a score of 115-102.
Photo by Allison Simon
Charles Chaney
Student Sports Media
Defense was optional as the Butler Grizzlies men’s basketball team moved onto the Region VI Tournament. Butler beat Pratt 115-102 on Sunday, March 5 at Hartman Arena in Park City.
The Grizzlies set a school record for most times scoring at least 110 points, doing it three times this season.Scoring came in bunches and often. Butler had a 30-point mark with only 13 minutes left in the first half and fought back to tie it up at 53-all by the break.
“Keeping our cool and just playing within the system,” Butler Head Coach Bryan Miller said. “I was really proud of our offense tonight, in large part with Ketarrious [Bouchum].”
Bouchum scored a career 33 points on 14-of-22 shooting in 36 minutes.
“You cannot rush the maturation process,” Miller said.
Bouchum’s aggressive nature all game long, stemming from the game plan Milller set out in pregame saw the fuel to the fire where Bouchum had 14 points at halftime.
“I’m just continuing to grow and help this team win,” Miller said.
Butler fell behind by six early at 19-13, but fought back, taking the lead 35-33 with a Bouchum lay up with 7:20 remaining in the first half. Bouchum scored six of the half’s final 10 points for Butler.
The Grizzlies were knotted up at 53-all at half.
Sophomore Johnnathan Lindsey nailed the lay up, putting Butler within 74-72 with 13:04 left in the game. A missed Pratt lay up, followed by a Lindsey three-pointer that rimmed out. Lindsey followed his own rebound with a missed dunk off the shot that rimmed off. Lindsey would not quit as he grabbed yet another offensive board, getting fouled after making the basket.
Lindsey finished with six points and seven rebounds.
The energy fueled off Lindsey’s dunk radiated throughout the Butler bench. Sophomore Semaj Hervey put the ball off the glass and the Grizzlies had obtained the lead, which they would never relinquish.
Karlon McSpadden drained a three-pointer with 9:56 remaining to put Butler ahead 79-76.
“Coach always wants me to bring energy,” Hervey said. “We like to think when we go to the bench, we don’t keep up we get better.”
With LaJuan Hardy getting his ankled tapped, Hervey’s leadership saw the Grizzlies go on a 16-3 run. The run blew the game open and the Beavers would never be within 11.
“I thought we did a great job of defending in the second half,” Miller said. “We turned up the heat in the second half and it showed on Pratt.”
Jacolby Harris was one of four Grizzlies in double figures. He finished with 18 points. Hardy had 16 points. Will Adler had 13 points and McSpadden had 12 points off the bench.
Butler would advance to the semi-finals against No. 1 seed Hutchinson on Tuesday, March 7. If The Grizzlies can win the entire Region VI tournament, they would head to Hutchinson or the National Tournament.