Matthew Will
Sports Editor
For Head Coach Mike Helmer and the sophomores of the Butler Women’s basketball team, the Region VI crown was hardly a thought as they drove to Sedalia, Missouri on Friday, Nov. 2 to begin their 2018-19 season. Now, just over four months later, they reign as Region VI champions after a challenging tournament run including games against rivals No. 8 Hutchinson and No. 2 Seward.
“[Hutchinson and Seward] are two of the best programs in the Jayhawk and two of the best programs in the country, if you ask me,” Helmer said. “There’s no better way to win it than going through those two teams.”
Butler defeated Seward County, 62-54 on Wednesday, March 6 to claim their first Region VI title in school history. After defeating Seward in the regular season as well, Butler had claimed two straight wins over Seward for the first time in over 15 years.
Butler started hot offensively, up 20-6 at the end of the first quarter. It was the second quarter that proved Butler’s struggle, allowing Seward to shoot over 40 percent from the field in the second quarter alone. The Saints outscored Butler 15-4 in the second, cutting Butler’s lead to three at halftime.
“We just knew we had to stay calm… we just had to believe and believe in each other,” said sophomore Taylor Birch.
Despite being outscored in the third, Butler stuck to basics and found the defensive stops when it mattered in the second half, controlling the game well. After the third quarter, Seward has tied the game at 40, thanks to Lexi Hernandez and Carla Covane who each scored seven in the third.
In the fourth, defense ruled supreme for Butler, who only allowed two points in the last three minutes for Seward. In that same stretch, Butler hit five of their six free throws.
The Grizzlies offense was helped dramatically by double-digit efforts from sophomores Kyla Callins and Jalise Smallwood who combined for 30 points. Butler outrebounded the Saints 51-30, helped mostly by Callins’ 14 and freshman Criste’On Waters’ eight. For Seward, Hernandez put up 19 points, a game-wide high.
Helmer and the team gave high praises to the fans who traveled to the game.
“BUCO Nation… was roaring tonight,” Helmer said. “It was loud. It was fun.”
Callins, who averaged 18 points per game and 10 rebounds per game in the tournament, was awarded the Player of the Tournament, decided upon by the Region VI director. Waters and Birch were also selected to the All-Region VI Tournament team.
“I could not have done it without my teammates,” Callins said. They all worked hard; it is a team thing. We all should be player of the tournament.”
Because Butler won the Region VI tournament, the Grizzlies received an automatic bid to the 2019 NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas. After receiving the six seed, they received a first-round bye in the tournament. This is the second appearance for Butler, their other coming in 2013 when they received an at-large bid.
“That’s what this team is about, when they fight and play like we have been these past couple days, I think we are as good as anyone in the country,” Helmer said.
