Beech Tree News Network

WHITESVILLE - Butler County finished runner-up in the 12th District Boys' Basketball Tournament. Grayson County pulled away to beat rival Butler County 67-53 in the Whitesville Trinity High School-hosted 12th District Boys' Basketball Tournament title game on Friday, March 19. 

With the win, Grayson County improved to 13-8. Butler County dropped to 5-9 with the loss. 

Both Grayson County and Butler County advanced to the 3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament. The Cougars and Bears battled back and forth throughout the 12th District boys' basketball title game. Butler County started strong, outscoring the Cougars 13-8 in the opening quarter.  But Grayson County battled back to lead 27-24 at halftime.

The Cougars led 46-39 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Grayson County shot 50 percent (25-of-50) from the field. The Cougars were 4-of-8 (50 percent) from 3-point range.

Grayson County shot 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free throw line. The Cougars used a balanced offensive attack to pull out the district title-clinching win. 

Turning in a balanced offensive effort, Grayson County featured four scorers in double figures. River Blanton led Grayson County, scoring 16 points for the Cougars. Blanton was 7-of-11 from the field. 

Accompanying Blanton in double figures for Grayson County, Keegan Sharp scored 14 points, Dillon Horn netted 12 points and Chandler McCrady tallied 10 points. Finishing one field goal short of reaching double figures for the Cougars, Hunter Tomes tossed in eight points.  Rounding out Grayson County's individual scoring, Brayden Childress and Owen Bratcher chipped in five points and two points, respectively. 

Butler County shot 37 percent (17-of-46) from the field. The Bears were 2-of-13 from 3-point range.  Butler County shot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the free throw line.

Jagger Henderson scored 19 points to pace the Bears. Henderson was 6-of-10 from 3-point range.  Accompanying Henderson in double figures in scoring for Butler County, Leevi McMillin netted 14 points and Brody Hunt posted 12 points.

The additional scorers for Butler County in the short effort were Solomon Flener (three points), Isaac Dockery (two points), Lawson Rice (two points) and Hayden Hodge (one point). Flener paced Butler County on the backboards, grabbing 10 rebounds. 

Grayson County, Butler County, Meade County, Owensboro Catholic, Ohio County, Owensboro, Muhlenberg County and Hancock County make up the field for the 3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament.

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Lady Bears finish runner-up in 12th District 

WHITESVILLE - Butler County finished runner-up in the 12th District Girls' Basketball Tournament. Grayson County pulled away to beat the Lady Bears 56-42 in the 12th District Girls' Basketball Tournament title game at Whitesville Trinity High School on Thursday, March 18. 

With the win, Grayson County improved to 13-9.  Butler County dropped to 9-6 with the loss. Both Grayson County and Butler County advance to the 3rd Region Girls' Basketball Tournament. 

Recording a double-double, Aryssa Riggs scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead Grayson County to the win. Riggs drained five 3-point field goals.  Adding another double-double for Grayson County, Rachael Snyder scored 17 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. 

Butler County started strong, outscoring Grayson County 9-6 in the opening quarter. The Lady Bears led 24-17 at halftime but faltered in the third quarter.

Grayson County moved out in front during the third period, eventually pushing its advance out to double digits. 

Grayson County shot 29.6 percent (16-of-54) from the field. The Lady Cougars were 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) from 3-point range.

Grayson County shot 76 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line. 

The additional scorers for Grayson County in the championship-clinching victory were Brianna Dennis (five points), Sydney Perkins (four points), Annie Kiper (four points) and Raigan Cave (two points).

Taylin Clark paced Butler County, scoring a team-high 10 points for the Lady Bears. 

Narrowly missing double figures in scoring for Butler County, Jaelyn Taylor netted nine points. 

Grayson County, Butler County Breckinridge County, Apollo, Ohio County, McLean County, Meade County and Owensboro Catholic make up the field for the 3rd Region Girls' Basketball Tournament.