All the Butler Grizzlies thought about wanting to play game 34 of the season.
Then when they got the opportunity of playing game 34 — otherwise known as the Region VI men’s basketball championship at Wichita State’s Koch Arena — the Grizzlies had a focus of determination not to lose on the way to a 72-60 victory over the Coffeyville Red Ravens for their first regional title since 1996.
It’s a good thing Grizzlies have teeth because the Butler men were able to hold off the Seward County Saints by the skin of theirs in a 67-65 victory in a Region VI men’s basketball semifinal game at Wichita State’s Koch Arena.
The Circle Thunderbirds found themselves in a huge hole early in the second quarter of their Class 4A boys sub-state championship game at Maize South, trailing by 15 points after the Rose Hill Rockets hit five straight three-pointers.
The Circle Lady Thunderbirds were hoping to gain revenge on Rose Hill for practically winning the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division IV title at Hanson Court.
The Butler men moved on to the Region VI semifinals for the second consecutive season, fighting off Cloud County by a 82-69 score on Saturday at Koch Arena.
There was some admitted revenge factor in the minds of the Circle Thunderbirds as they prepared to play the Wichita Trinity Knights in a Class 4A Maize South regional Friday night.
The Circle Lady Thunderbirds avoided the upset bug Thursday night as they withstood a passionate challenge by the Mulvane Lady Wildcats to win 50-46 in a Class 4A sub-state semifinal at Maize South High School.
El Dorado senior Alex Wygle had been on this big stage before, but he wanted this year's trip to mean a little more.
The 2009-10 Jayhawk West men’s basketball conference player and coach of the year come from the Butler Grizzlies.
The Butler Grizzlies could have overlooked the Labette Cardinals, their first round opponent in the Region VI tournament, in action Tuesday night at the Power Plant.
Butler sophomore Brett Macari hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth then sent down all three of the batters he faced in order for his third save as the Grizzlies recorded a 14-12 victory over the 12th-ranked Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets.
The Remington Lady Broncos allowed only one field goal in the first half on the way to a 49-23 victory over Lyons in a Class 3A Sterling substate girls first round game.
The El Dorado Lady Wildcats have been close in a number of games this season, but not been able to get the peverbial hump at the end as something didn’t come through.
Circle senior Christy Couey wanted to do what she could to make sure the Thunderbirds started the substate basketball tournament with a bang.
The Remington Broncos scored 23 points in the final quarter to rally for a 61-56 victory over Southeast of Saline in a Class 3A Sterling first round contest at Allen Gymnasium.
El Dorado senior Dylon Walker was on a mission at the Class 4A state tournament at the Bicentennial Center, but he was tied 4-4 midway though his 189-pound title match after getting taken down by Clay Center junior Ryan Anderson.
Walker felt it was time to kick his game up another gear.
Getting outside to play games seemed to pick up the spirits of the Butler Grizzlies in their first league doubleheader of the season Friday at Stanion Field against the Pratt Beavers.
The El Dorado Wildcats boys bowling team scored their most pins on the season in their regional tournament at Emporia’s Flint Hills Lanes, but finished fourth and didn’t qualify for the state meet.
The Butler Community College softball season was supposed to start more than three weeks ago, but the snowy weather both here in Kansas and in locations in Texas has kept the Lady Grizzlies from getting any games in on the season.
Despite an 80-75 loss on Saturday to Seward County, the Butler men have won the Jayhawk West Conference title outright. That’s because Cloud County defeated Hutchinson 74-60 in Concordia.
