Beech Tree News Network

With a 31-point performance by senior guard Zack Burden, the Butler County Bears remained in firm control of the 12th District on Friday night with a 75-68 home win over Grayson County.  Meanwhile, the Lady Bears dropped to 2-1 in district play, falling 60-44 to the Lady Cougars.  Shawna West led the Lady Bears in scoring with 13 points.  

Zack Burden scored the first seven points for Butler County and Zeke Woodcock added a basket to give the Bears a quick 9-2 lead and a 16-11 first quarter margin.  But, Grayson came back in the second as guard Talon Gary hit the mark for the Cougars.  Grayson took the lead at 24-22 late in the quarter.  With under a minute left, the Cougars held a 32-27 lead.  A steal and basket by Burden and a basket by Trevor Jenkins (assist Caleb Deweese) cut the Bears' halftime deficit to one at 32-31.

The third quarter featured a see-saw game as Butler scored five unanswered points and Grayson seven, accompanied by a technical foul on Butler County head coach Calvin Dockery for attempting to discuss a call with the referee.  The "T" sparked the Bears to a 52-46 third quarter advantage. 

Rex Henderson scored four quick points in the final quarter to push the lead to ten points.  Butler County matched Grayson for the rest of the way and hit some key free throws to hold on for the 75-68 win. 

Zack Burden led the Bears in scoring with 31, along with 8 rebounds.  Zeke Woodcock had 15 points and ten rebounds. 

Talon Gary led Grayson in scoring with 26 points. 

GC........11....21....14....22........68

BC........16....15....21....23........75

Butler County (75):  Z. Burden 31, Z. Woodcock 15, C. Deweese 11, R. Henderson 9, T. Jenkins 6, K. Cardwell 2, B. Graham 1.  

Grayson County (68):  T. Gary 26, C. Akridge 15, Z. Williams 8, C. Williams 7, A. Shellhart 6, B. Johnston 2, T. Tyra 2, G. Akridge 2. 

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The Butler County Lady Bears fell behind 20-7 in the first quarter and were trying to play catch-up the rest of the game.  Baskets by Shawna West and Cheyenne White paced the team's early scoring.  Trailing by double-digits, Addison Hall hit a pair of shots for the Lady Bears to narrow the deficit but Grayson still held a 37-16 halftime lead.

Grayson pushed its lead to 20 in the third before a series of three-pointers by Shawna West and Allie Easley cut into the lead.  Baskets by Katie Graham and free throws by Lynsie Clark and McKenzie Smith rounded out the Lady Bears second-half scoring. 

Shawna West led the Lady Bears in scoring with 13 points.  Maddie Stewart had 13 points to lead the Lady Cougars. 

GC........20....17....11....12........60

BC.........7......9.....12....16........44

Butler County (44):  S. West 13, A. Easley 10, K. Graham 6, L. Clark 5, A. Hall 5, C. White 4, M. Smith 1.  

Grayson County (60):  M. Stewart 13, K. Shull 12, S. Pierce 11, G. White 6, J. Johnston 6, M Woosley 4, A. Horton 3, H. Saltsman 3, J. Decker 11, S. Embry 1.    

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Story by John Embry; photos by Jeremy Hack, Beech Tree News

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This sports coverage is brought to you by the sponsors of the 2013-14 BC Sports Package with WLBQ/BtN. We are grateful for their continued support of Butler County student-athletes.

 The following are 2013-14 Butler County Sports Package Sponsors:

 - Jones Funeral Chapel & Monument Company

 - Morgantown Bank & Trust

 - Hocker Family Insurance

 - Parkway Cars & Tires

 - PBI Bank

 - Final Finish

 - Butler County Farm Bureau Insurance

 - Bluegrass Oral Health

 - Orthopedics Plus Physical Therapy

 - Butler County Board of Education

 - Warren RECC

 - Butler County Drug Free Coalition

 - Butler County Judge-Executive David Fields

 - Tiffany's Tanning

 -Green River Feed Mill

 - Merle Norman Cosmetics