Bears drop district game to Grayson County, defeat St. Francis

Thu, 01/23/2020 - 8:49am — Diane Dyer

LEITCHFIELD - Visiting Butler County fell short as Grayson County held on to win 47-45 in overtime in a 12th District boys' basketball game on Friday, Jan. 17.

The victory allowed Grayson County to halt a six-game losing skid.

Grayson County outscored Butler County 9-7 in the extra period to notch the win.

The Cougars and Bears split their annual 12th District regular-season series.

Starting strong, Butler County outscored Grayson County 12-4 in the opening quarter. But Grayson County battled back. The Bears led the Cougars 21-17 at halftime 31-27 when the third quarter concluded.

Familiar 12th District rivals, Grayson County and Butler County were tired 38-38 at the end of the fourth quarter to force the extra period.

Nolan Shartzer led Grayson County to the district win with a double-double, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Shartzer was the only Grayson County player to reach double figures in scoring. However, multiple Grayson County players contributed to the win.

Narrowly missing double figures, Jaxon Higdon netted nine points for the Cougars.

The additional scorers for Grayson County were Brayden Childress (five points), Miles Hornbeck (five points), Chase Johnson (two points) and Chandler McCrady (one point).

Butler County finished 0-for-7 from 3-point range. The Bears shot only 37.9 percent (11-of-29) from the free throw line.

Parker Rice led Butler County with 22 points. Rice was 8-of-15 from the field.

Leevi McMillin accompanied Rice in double figures and recorded a double-double for the Bears, scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Jagger Henderson (five points), Solomon Flener (three points), Brody Hunt (two points) and Hayden Hodge (one point) provided Butler County's additional scoring in the heartbreaking loss.

Both Butler County and Grayson County will compete in the 12th District Boys' Basketball Tournament in February.

Butler County 85, St. Francis 59: Parker Rice poured in a game-high 30 points to lead Butler County over host St. Francis 85-59 in a boys' high school basketball game on Saturday.

Butler County shot 47.9 percent (35-of-73) from the field. The Bears were 10-of-27 (37 percent) from 3-point range.

Butler County shot 100 percent (6-of-6) from the free throw line.

The Bears dominated inside, grabbing 46 rebounds.

Solomon Flener joined Rice in double figures for the Bears, scoring 14 points.

Levi McMillin narrowly missed reaching double figures in scoring for the Bears, finishing with nine points.

The additional scorers for Butler County were Jagger Henderson (seven points), Isaac Dockery (seven points), Brody Hunt (five points), Hayden Hodge (four points), Luke Laughing (three points), Zach Tutko (three points), Braden Dockery (two points) and Macauley Hampton (two points).

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