Beech Tree News Network

Coming off a 14-11 record and another 12th District championship, the Butler County High School Bears' basketball team is hoping to reload for its 2014-15 season.  To do so, Coach Calvin Dockery's Bears will have to replace three seniors that loomed large in the program over the past few years.   
"We lost three seniors who each contributed.  Zeke Woodcock provided a great deal of experience, Trevor Jenkins’ size and shooting will be missed, as well, and Drew Henderson played some big minutes defensively for us last year," said Dockery.  

The Oak Ridge Christian Academy Warriors took two wins at home against Micah Christian Academy on November 21. The Lady Warriors varsity team started out the night with a 38-37 win. Leading the Lady Warriors was Hannah Burden with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals; Jasmine Alford with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 1 steal; Gabby Harris with 7 points and 3 rebounds; Gracie Clark with 4 points, 11 rebounds and 1 steal; Delaney Cooper with 2 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals; and Taya Strasburger with 5 rebounds and 1 steal.

With a new coach at the helm, the Butler County Lady Bears basketball team is set to kick-off its 2014-15 season on Monday, December 1, at Hancock County.  With an aggressive summer program and challenging preseason, the Lady Bears have been hard at work on the court since official practice began October 15.  An assistant football coach and teacher at Butler County for the last few years, Coach Bivens is hoping to improve on a 2013-14 squad that went 8-16.  However, the coach acknowleged there are big shoes to fill from that team.

Butler County Elite is an 11U travel baseball team that began this past August and ended their 2014 season in late October. The team consisted of Brody Hunt, Jake McKee, Chance Castlen, Hezekiah Pendley, Jordan McCrady, Eli Lewis, Drew Daugherty, Trey Stovall, Bo Kirby, Braden Dockery, Cade Stephens, and coaches Jessi McKee, Jon Hunt, Adam Stovall and DJ Daugherty.

Local basketball fans got a good look at the 2014-15 Butler County High School boys and girls basketball squads on Monday night, November 24, at its annual Meet the Team event.  
"Meet the Team is an opportunity for the kids and community to have a good time.  It is a laid back event that allows the public to become familiar with our cheerleaders, girls basketball team, and boys basketball teams," said Butler County boys' coach Calvin Dockery.

Butler County Middle School recognized its 8th grade girls' basketball players in a brief ceremony prior to their game against Auburn on Monday, November 24.  Nine players, along with their parents, were honored for their contributions to the middle school basketball program.  The team began play in late September and will wrap up their season in mid-December.  The following 8th grade players were recognized:  Kari McClelland #44 (parents Tammy and Kurt McClelland), Alyssa Swift #33 (parents Wendy and Kenny Swift), Amber Thacker #12 (parents Angie Thacker and James Thacker), Maddie Cardwell

The Oak Ridge Warriors and Lady Warriors traveled to Glasgow Christian Academy November 18 bringing home two wins and one loss .The Lady Warriors began the night with a 31-20 win. Leading the Warriors was Hannah Burden with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assist, 4 steals and 1 block. Delaney Cooper with 4 pts, 2 rebounds,1 assist and 1 block.Taya Strasburger with 3 points,4 rebounds,1 steal and 1 block. Gracie Clark 2 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block. Jasmine Alford with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks.

The holiday commercials already swamping our collective brains along with winds straight from the North Pole remind us that short-sleeve weather is now months away. Winter is here.
Waterfowl hunters don’t see these developments as bad news. They are getting their bags of decoys out of storage, cleaning and oiling shotguns and practicing their calling. Waterfowl season, for both ducks and geese, opens Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27.

On Friday November 7, Drake's Farm Service hosted "Hunter's Night Out", an event exclusively directed to the hunter and outdoorsmen demographic within Morgantown and Butler County. The event was slated to begin at 5:30PM, and among the attractions were music, a camp fire, Stan's Famous Chili, additional food items, drinks, and special deals within the store.  

The Oak Ridge Warriors began their season with two wins. On Saturday, November 1, they  traveled to Sugar Grove, winning  57-23. Leading the Warriors was Cade Crowder with 26 points, 7 rebound and 3 steals; Cory Mason with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists; Trenton Harris with 10 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 assistx; Hunter Mason with 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 assists; Alex Young with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 assists; Trenton Cooper with 1 point, 1 rebound, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot; and Ben Corley with 1 rebound .