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.
Butler finishes 13-3 in Jayhawk West Conference play, 25-5 overall. Hutchinson finishes a game behind at 12-4 in conference play. It’s Butler first conference title since 2001.
Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. The Grizzlies led 4-0 three minutes into the game, but then went nearly five minutes without scoring a field goal as Seward was able slowly build a 34-26 at the break.
In the second half, Butler came all the way back, taking their first lead consecutive three-pointers by Dushawn Brooks that made it 47-46 with 12:43 to play. Butler would lead by as many as nine at 66-57 with 7:40 to go, but Seward mounted a comeback of its own, going ahead by a point with 2:44 to play at 72-71.
Seward seemed to seal the win with two minutes to play when Brooks was called for a foul and a technical foul on the same play. Seward made three of four free throws to go ahead 75-72 and held off the Grizzlies over the final two minutes.
Butler was led by Caleb Walker’s 23 points, while Josh Gibbs had 13 (along with seven rebounds), Anthony Cousin added 12 and Brooks scored 11 points. Latiq Agard and Robert Sigala had 21 points apiece to lead Seward.
The Grizzlies begin the Region VI playoffs with a home game on Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. The opponent will the Labette Cardinals (9-21).
Liberal, Kan. —
