Beech Tree News Network

MORGANTOWN — Butler County outlasted visiting Cumberland County 50-45 in its season opener on Friday, Dec. 2. 

The Lady Bears shook off a slow start to notch the win.

Cumberland County managed to outscore Butler County 15-10 in the first quarter. 

But Butler County battled back.

Butler County and Cumberland County were tied 24-24 at halftime. 

After the two girls' high school basketball teams swapped leads on multiple occasions, Butler County led 33-31 at the end of the third quarter.

Butler County shot 39.5 percent (17-of-43) from the field. The Lady Bears connected on one of eight three-point field goal attempts. 

Butler County shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from the free throw line. 

Jenna Phelps scored 17 points to lead Butler County to the win. Accompanying Phelps in double figures for the Lady Bears, Taylor Leach netted 15 points. 

Contributing offensively, Parker Willoughby (seven points), Kennedy Rice (four points), Bailey Moore (three points), Tinslea Belcher (two points) and Ann Marie Skaggs (two points) accounted for the rest of Butler County's scoring. 

Skaggs paced Butler County inside, securing 10 rebounds. 

Butler County and Cumberland County aren't scheduled to meet again in the 2022-23 girls' high school basketball season. 

Set for its next game, Butler County is slated to visit Todd County Central on Monday, Dec. 5. Tip-off for the Butler County-Todd County Central girls' basketball game is slated for 6:30 p.m. in Elkton.