Beech Tree News Network

Peaking at the right time is something all sports' team strive to do.  Coach Dustin Barnett's Butler County Middle School boys' basketball team is doing just that in its end-of-season conference tournament.  The 8th grade Bears, #4 seed in the Green River Valley Conference Tournament, upset top seed Edmonson County 46-34 on Saturday, January 25, in opening round play at Ohio County Middle School.  On Tuesday, January 28, BCMS took down host and #2 seed Ohio County 38-31.  With the win, the Bears advanced to the GRVC Championship, which is set for Thursday, January 23, at Ohio County High School.  

(Brody Dockery, file photo from action earlier this season.)

"We started this season back in April and we have grown so much as a team," said Coach Barnett.  "Learning each other's habits and tendencies has been vital to our late season success. We have played teams from Owensboro to Bowling Green and our strength of schedule is really paying off." 

Butler County started hot against Edmonson on Saturday, racing to a 10-1 first quarter lead and a 22-12 halftime advantage.  The squads played even ball in the third with the Bears outscoring the Wildcats 14-12 in the last quarter to secure the 46-34 win.  

Tayten Wilson led the Bears in scoring with 10 points.  Other Bears in the scoring column include Brody Dockery-9; Ayden Tooley-7; Sage Wallace-6; Owen Wilson-6; Kohlden Whitsell-3, Gabe Bratcher-3; and Aiden Phelps-2.

(Gabe Bratcher, file photo from action earlier this season.)

Once again a fast start benefitted the Bears in its Tuesday match-up against Ohio County.  BCMS led 14-6 after the first quarter and 22-7 at halftime.  However, the Eagles rallied in the third, outscoring the Bears 15-10.  Nevertheless, the Bears held on in the fourth quarter to earn the 38-31 win and a spot in the GRVC Championship on Thursday against #3 seed McLean County.

"In order to prepare for McLean, we will have one practice solely focused on what MUST happen in order for us to come out victorious," said Barnett.  "Leading up to that, personally, I will be watching game films from sunup to sundown."

Tipoff for the Butler/McLean game is approximately 7:15 p.m. at Ohio County High School.  The game will be live on WLBQ 101.5/103.5 FM.