Raymond Hoare
Student Sports Media
The 2018-19 women’s basketball season is now in the books. Looking back, the Grizzlies excelled as they finished 28-5 overall and 18-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. This season, they were undefeated at home at 14-0. Overall, the Grizzlies have been undefeated at home since Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 standing at a 20-home game winning streak.
The Grizzlies exceeded expectations as they won the Jayhawk East Conference and winning their first ever Region VI title, hence forth punching their ticket to the National Tournament. This season is something to remember from the players, coaches and all the fans that come out and supported these women as they faced hardships, health problems and overcoming obstacles during the season.
Starting out the year, the Grizzlies were No. 16 in the national rankings and were predicted to win the Kansas Jayhawk East Conference.
To begin the season, the Grizzlies would go to Sedalia, Missouri to participate in the State Fair Classic, winning both games to start the year. The Grizzlies would go on a 12-game winning streak beating No. 19 Iowa Western and No. 10 Seward County in the process. The streak ended as they lost to No. 8 Hutchinson on the road.
In the final game of the regular season they beat Coffeyville, 67-42, to take the Jayhawk East Conference Title.
The Grizzlies earned the the second seed in the Region VI tournament. The path to the title was tough as the Grizzlies would have to beat Pratt, Hutchinson and Seward en route to the championship.
“What we will remember about this team… it’s awesome to be the first one, but us three coaches [Assistant Coaches Abby Fawcett and Tysia Manuel] believed all along that it was going to happen even through the highs and lows,” Head Coach Mike Helmer said. “We knew we had the talent just whether were going to put it together at the right time.”
Sophomore forward Kyla Callins was the MVP of the Region VI All-Tournament Team, while teammates sophomore guard Taylor Birch and freshman forward Criste’on Waters were also named to the All –Tournament Team.
As KJCCC announced their First and Second All-Conference teams, Helmer was Co-Coach of the Year. Two Butler Grizzlies were announced on the first team, sophomore guard Jalise Smallwood with 10.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.1 APG. Also, on the first team was sophomore forward Kyla Callins with 10.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 2.6 APG. One more Butler Grizzly was announced in the second team, freshman forward Criste’on Waters with 10.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 1.2 BPG.
The journey didn’t stop there as the Grizzlies would go to Lubbock, Texas for the NJCAA National Tournament, they automatically qualified after winning District F. Butler was seeded at No. 6, set to face the Northwest Florida State after a first-round bye. In a very closely contested game, the Grizzlies would fall short in the tournament, losing to the Raiders, 51-50. This was only the second time in history that the women’s team made the national tournament as Helmer took the team to nationals in 2014.
“Whatever you do, play hard, go hard in life, go hard in wherever your next adventure is,” Coach Helmer said. “… we talk about being a family, we say family strong, continue that family atmosphere, be strong, be tough.”