Wesley Hagar
Student Sports Media
With a win over the Cowley County Tigers, Butler women’s basketball team has extended their lead in the conference to 11-2, 20-2 this season. The second-place team, Cowley County, fell to 9-4 in the conference, 18-4 overall.
It was a fast start to the game as there were back-to-back layups by sophomore forward Kyla Callins and freshman forward Criste’on Waters. As the first quarter went on, the Tigers gave the Grizzlies a good run as sophomore guard Kedranea’ Addison started to score for the Tigers. The Grizzlies took the lead up by four, 16-12.
The Grizzlies looked to take control of the second quarter. With three minutes left in the second quarter, freshman forward Jelesa Gross made back-to-back layups with a bit of help from sophomore forward Awreona Ransom, as she stole the ball from freshman guard Paige Grantstaff. The Grizzlies entered the half with a 42-33 lead.
The Tigers seemingly inched their way in for a comeback as Addison gave the Tigers the push they needed scoring 14 points in the third quarter going 100% on the quarter alone. The Tigers won the third quarter as they were only down by seven points, 57-50.
It was a neck-and-neck game as the fourth quarter came down to the wire. The Grizzlies were down by one point as Cowley freshman guard Sarsha Follacchio missed one of her two free throws. As it went down to the final minute, Waters made a jump shot giving the Grizzlies the slight lead, 72-71. Grantstaff was up on the line and she only made one of her free throws and regulation ended tied at 72-72.
As overtime started, the Tigers were up by two, but with sophomore guard Jalise Smallwood’s three-point shot, it set the tone in overtime as the Grizzlies pulled off the win and remained undefeated at home, 11-0.
On the night, the leading scorer was Addison of Cowley as she scored 41 points, going 15 for 26 on the field, 7 for 13 on three-pointers and 4 for 4 on free throws.
The leading scorer for the Grizzlies was freshman guard Camille Downs with 18 points, 6 for 13 on the field, 2 for 5 on three-pointers and 4 for 7 on free throws.
“We have to learn to play as a team when we do start playing as a team, we are successful,” Head Coach Mike Helmer said.
Helmer also recognized Cowley’s Allison.
“She’s the real deal,” Helmer said. “Cowley got a great kid. They should be really proud of her.”