Beech Tree News Network

Bears defeat Daviess County, 82-74

MORGANTOWN — Returning to the win column, Butler County defeated visiting Daviess County 82-74 in a boys' high school basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 6. 

The Bears won after dropping a game to Owensboro over the weekend.

With the win, Butler County improved to 4-1. 

The Bears shook of a slow start to claim the win.

Moving ahead early, Daviess County outscored the Bears 17-13 in the first quarter.

The Panthers led the Bears 34-31 at halftime but faltered after the intermission period. 

Butler County managed to move ahead in the second half and led 53-48 at the conclusion of the third quarter. 

Butler County shot 51 percent from the field. The Bears shot 39 from three-point range.

Butler County shot 79 percent from the free throw line. 

Controlling the backboards, the Bears outrebounded Daviess County 33-17. 

Ty Price poured in a game-high 35 points to lead Butler County to the win.

Accompanying Price in double figures for the Bears, Lawson Rice scored 22 points. Rice recorded a double-double, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. 

Nearly reaching double figures for Butler County, Justin Castlen netted nine points and Luke Laughing tossed in eight points.

Trever Deweese and Keagen Grubb rounded out Butler County's individual scoring, chipping in four points apiece. 

Daviess County lost despite shooting 53.8 percent from the field. The Panthers shot 37.5 percent from three-point range.

Daviess County shot 80 percent from the free throw line. 

Gage Phelps scored a team-high 25 points to lead the Panthers. Accompanying Phelps in double figures for Daviess County, Jack Payne netted 23 points.

The additional scorers for Daviess County included Decker Renfrow (eight points), James Oberst (six points), Luke Floyd (four points), John McCain (four points), Jaxon Brown (two points) and Aydan Ayer (two points). 

Butler County is scheduled to host Whitesville Trinity for a 12th District opener on Friday, Dec. 9. Tip-off for the Butler County-Whitesville Trinity boys' basketball game is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Bears suffer first loss to Owensboro Catholic

OWENSBORO — Butler County suffered its first loss in the 2022-23 boys' high school basketball season as host Owensboro Catholic prevailed 75-67 in the Independence Bank Tipoff Classic at the Sportscenter on Saturday, Dec. 3. 

Owensboro Catholic featured four scorers in double figures. 

Brian Griffith and Parker Gray scored 18 points apiece to lead Owensboro Catholic to the win. Joining Griffith and Gray in double figures for the Aces, Luke Beickman added 17 points and Tut Carrico contributed 12 points. 

The additional scorers for Owensboro Catholic in the win included Mitchell Sims (seven points), Kaiser Frick (seven points) and Jody Hopgood (one point). 

Butler County shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field. The Bears finished three-of-12 from three-point range.

Butler County shot 70 percent (14-of-20) from the free throw line. 

Ty Price led the Bears, scoring a game-high 28 points. Accompanying Price in double figures for Butler County, Lawson Rice scored 26 points. Rice recorded a double-double, scoring pulling down 12 rebounds. 

Chipping in offensively, Kolton Hudson (four points), Justin Castlen (four points), Trever Deweese (three points) and Luke Laughing (two points) accounted for the rest of Butler County's scoring. 

Butler County is scheduled to host Daviess County on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Tip-off for the Butler County-Daviess County boys' basketball game is set for 7:30 p.m.