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 refocused our team 100 percent,” said sophomore Troy Pierce, one of five sophomores who will leave the program as regionals champs. “We wanted to get to game 34; and once we got to it, then everything else takes care of itself.”
Sophomore player Caleb Walker scored 26 points — including seven during an 11-2 run late in the second half to push a two-point lead up to 63-52 with 5:30 remaining in regulation. Pierce had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore Dushawn Brooks also scored 11.
All three players were named to the all-tournament team with Walker being named most valuable player of the tournament.
“I’m feeling good right now,” Walker said. “We’ve worked hard all year to get here. We’ve won conference and regionals, now we get to go after nationals. We’ve got to get back in the gym and prepare, but we need some time to enjoy this.”
For Brooks, it was a promise he made for the sophomores after their loss to Garden City in last year’s regional semifinals. Their plans were also fueled by what they perceived was a lack of respect by the conference after being picked fifth in the Jayhawk West after finishing second the year before.
“We were really mad when we lost to Garden,” Brooks said. “We worked super hard and running every day. Our red-shirts came to practice every day and got us a lot better. It helped us in clutch situations and got us hungry. We just made ourselves work harder to show everybody we’re the best (junior college) team in Kansas.”
The Grizzlies (29-5) were able to advantage of the 12 turnovers they forced the Ravens to commit during the game. Butler scored 20 points off of those turnovers. Butler also outrebounded Coffeyville 41-36 in the win.
Freshman guard Anthony Cousin said the work ethic of all the players was a tribute to the sophomores.
“It really doesn’t matter of it being a freshman or sophomore, it’s a matter of helping the team,” Cousin said. “The sophomores just showed the way and we’re going to look up to them like we did (Monday night).”
Butler coach Michael Bargen also said the business mindset the Grizzlies had is a credit to the sophomores for keeping the squad at an even keel in what could have been nerve racking times in their final wins over Seward County and the Ravens.
“I really liked how we looked,” Bargen said. “I feel like (against Seward) that we were locked in and got a sense that we were going to pull it out.
“I got that same sense in the lockerroom before the game. Even in the early runs when they were making shots, we didn’t panic and we found a way to pull it out.”
Kevin Broussard led Coffeyville (22-12) with 13 points, while Jermaine Brasfield scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the losing cause.
Bargen said the Grizzlies will take a couple of days off before getting ready for their first game in the national tournament against Wallace State (Ala.) at the Hutchinson Sports Arena next Tuesday.
“This is a new environment for me, so we’re going to evaluate for a couple of days and let them get reenergzied, then we’ll regroup and get after it and get ready to play.”
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
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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 refocused our team 100 percent,” said sophomore Troy Pierce, one of five sophomores who will leave the program as regionals champs. “We wanted to get to game 34; and once we got to it, then everything else takes care of itself.”
Sophomore player Caleb Walker scored 26 points — including seven during an 11-2 run late in the second half to push a two-point lead up to 63-52 with 5:30 remaining in regulation. Pierce had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore Dushawn Brooks also scored 11.
All three players were named to the all-tournament team with Walker being named most valuable player of the tournament.
“I’m feeling good right now,” Walker said. “We’ve worked hard all year to get here. We’ve won conference and regionals, now we get to go after nationals. We’ve got to get back in the gym and prepare, but we need some time to enjoy this.”
For Brooks, it was a promise he made for the sophomores after their loss to Garden City in last year’s regional semifinals. Their plans were also fueled by what they perceived was a lack of respect by the conference after being picked fifth in the Jayhawk West after finishing second the year before.
“We were really mad when we lost to Garden,” Brooks said. “We worked super hard and running every day. Our red-shirts came to practice every day and got us a lot better. It helped us in clutch situations and got us hungry. We just made ourselves work harder to show everybody we’re the best (junior college) team in Kansas.”
The Grizzlies (29-5) were able to advantage of the 12 turnovers they forced the Ravens to commit during the game. Butler scored 20 points off of those turnovers. Butler also outrebounded Coffeyville 41-36 in the win.
Freshman guard Anthony Cousin said the work ethic of all the players was a tribute to the sophomores.
“It really doesn’t matter of it being a freshman or sophomore, it’s a matter of helping the team,” Cousin said. “The sophomores just showed the way and we’re going to look up to them like we did (Monday night).”
Butler coach Michael Bargen also said the business mindset the Grizzlies had is a credit to the sophomores for keeping the squad at an even keel in what could have been nerve racking times in their final wins over Seward County and the Ravens.
“I really liked how we looked,” Bargen said. “I feel like (against Seward) that we were locked in and got a sense that we were going to pull it out.
“I got that same sense in the lockerroom before the game. Even in the early runs when they were making shots, we didn’t panic and we found a way to pull it out.”
Kevin Broussard led Coffeyville (22-12) with 13 points, while Jermaine Brasfield scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the losing cause.
Bargen said the Grizzlies will take a couple of days off before getting ready for their first game in the national tournament against Wallace State (Ala.) at the Hutchinson Sports Arena next Tuesday.
“This is a new environment for me, so we’re going to evaluate for a couple of days and let them get reenergzied, then we’ll regroup and get after it and get ready to play.”
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
