The North Butler girls basketball team ended a seven game slide with a competitive win over Northwood-Kensett. The North Butler boys had the first half advantage and made the #7(1A) Vikings earn the right to stay undefeated with a second half comeback. The Bearcat girls won 41-36 and the Viking boys won 58-46, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
In the girls game, Northwood-Kensett led 11-9 following a cold-shooting first quarter for both teams. The Bearcats took back the lead in the second quarter by getting to the rim outscoring the Vikings 13-8 to take a 22-19 into the break. The Bearcats outscored the Vikings 19-11 in the second half. Northwood-Kensett made one last push to draw even, getting within a three point margin twice inside the final minutes, including 36-33 with 2:19 to go. The Bearcats didn’t allow the Vikings to inch any closer, extending their lead back to two possessions to put away the series sweep.
North Butler Head Coach Jordan Nolz on the poise of Jady Thorne and the team in the closing minutes and building for upcoming opponents.
“She stepped up and really helped us out, and the other girls did too. We played with a lot of poise the last few minutes, which I was proud of because we haven’t been in very many close games, so that’s good,” says Nolz. “We had our A effort, but I wouldn’t say we had our A performance mentally, but it was improvement. We would love to build off that when we come to West Hancock, they’re going to pressure us, and so is Newman. We’ve got to be prepared for that.”
Zoey Thompson and Eden Wix paced the Bearcats with 16 points apiece.
In the boys game, North Butler played shot for shot with the Vikings in the first half and knocked down six triples for a 29-26 lead at the half. Northwood-Kensett took its first lead since 2-0 at 33-32 lead over North Butler with 3:47 to go in the third quarter. The Vikings outscored the Bearcats 17-9 in the quarter to take a 43-37 lead into the fourth. The Vikings expanded their lead into double figures in the fourth to extend their perfect record.
Bearcats Head Coach Austin Guerrero on a talented Vikings squad and next step in a four game week.
“There’s a reason that they’re ranked number seven, they got high talented kids and kids that have put a lot of time into playing basketball. Hats off to them, they just really figured out our defense a little bit better in that second half,” says Guerrero. “We tried to throw different wrinkles, different looks at them, and our kids bought into what we were trying to do, sometimes it’s just not good enough and that happened tonight. In a four-game week, the one practice you get is crucial. We’re in the mid-season now, our legs are probably a little tired. Tomorrow is going to be more of a mental side of practice.”
Trager Pecha was the only Bearcat in double figures with 13 points including three triples. Brody Wangsness with three triples and Ryan Austin each had nine points apiece.
The North Butler girls (2-7, 2-6 TIC-East) and the Bearcat boys (3-8, 2-5 TIC-East) will be at West Hancock on Thursday.
