HS BASKETBALL: Bears to compete in Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic

Fri, 11/24/2023 - 7:51am — John Embry

MORGANTOWN — Butler County will travel east for its final matchup in the boys' high school basketball preseason.

The Bears are scheduled to compete in the Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic at Martin County High School in Inez on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Butler County is matched up against former 15th Region champion Lawrence County in the Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic. Several of the state's best boys' high school basketball players will take the court during the Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic.

The top event of its kind in Kentucky, the Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic is celebrating 35 years.

The start time for the Butler County-Lawrence County game is 1:20 p.m.

Much-improved Butler County compiled a 22-11 record in the 2022-23 boys' high school basketball season. After finishing as the 12th District runner-up, Butler County reached the semifinals of the 3rd Region Boys' Basketball Tournament in the previous prep hoops campaign.

Both leading scorer Ty Price (Jr., G) and leading rebounder Lawson Rice (Jr., F) are back for the Bears. Price averaged 31.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for Butler County as a sophomore in the 2022-23 boys' high school basketball season. Price was among the state's leading scorers as a sophomore. Delivering a double-double for the Bears, Rice averaged 18.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 campaign.

Head coach Calvin Dockery guides the Bears.

Butler County opened preseason practice in mid-October. The Bears are scheduled to host South Warren for a 2023-24 season opener on Monday, Nov. 27.

The schedule for the Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic follows.

Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic

at Martin County High School, Inez

Saturday, Nov. 25

Prestonsburg vs. Magoffin County, 10:40 a.m. (Boys)

Pike County Central vs. Ashland, Noon (Boys)

Lawrence County vs. Butler County, 1:20 p.m. (Boys)

Evangel Christian vs. Boyd County, 2:40 p.m. (Boys)

Lyon County vs. Great Crossing, 4 p.m. (Boys)

Martin County vs. Tug Valley (W.Va.), 5:20 p.m. (Girls)