Beech Tree News Network

The Monday after the NFL's final regular season weekend is called Black Monday. This is because that's the day annually that numerous head coaches get fired. This year it was no less black than usual, with six coaches getting the axe.

As if that isn't enough to keep football coaches in the news there have also been a rash of college hirings and firings going on. All together it's been enough to get me pondering the state of big time head football coaches and coaching.

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.  

The 2013-14 school year marked the return of the fall Wellness course offered to Butler County High School students. This class was made up of many male and female basketball players as well as baseball and softball players. With the success displayed by the spring Wellness format, the same was utilized in this year’s fall course. Five captains were chosen to lead teams comprised of students “drafted” by each captain.

The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, in conjunction with the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center will hold auditions for National Anthem singers, public address announcers and on-field emcees.  Auditions are scheduled for Saturday, January 25th from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center in downtown Bowling Green.

The Butler County High School and Butler County Middle School Cheerleaders competed in the Snowball Cheer Classic Competition on Saturday at Bowling Green High.  Both squads took first place in their respective division and the BCHS squad was named Grand Champions.

“We won the large squad division and took home the grand champion trophy over all cheer squads,” said Lisa Rhoades, Head Cheer Coach. 

Both the Butler County girls' and boys' basketball teams remained undefeated in 12th District play on Friday night with convincing wins over Whitesville Trinity.  The Lady Bears easily dispatched the Lady Raiders 67-23.  In the second game of the boy-girl doubleheader, the Bears broke open a close game in the second half on their way to a 60-41 win.  Both squads are now 2-0 in district play with games against Grayson County and Edmonson County looming. 

The Butler County Lady Bears participated in the Farmers’ National Bank Bash at South Warren High School during the Christmas break.  The Lady Bears went 1-2 in the tournament defeating Greenup County and falling to Green County and Russell County. 

The Butler County Middle School eighth grade basketball team kicked off Christmas break by traveling to Adairville on Saturday, December 21st for a Christmas tournament.  The trip proved to be a successful one for the Bears with them coming away with a third place finish.  The Bears first game of the day was against the Lewisburg Rangers.  Several players shined for the Bears.  Patton Allen and Brendan Shanklin dominated the boards, pulling rebound after rebound.  Brennan Grubb was pesky defensively and led the team in steals.  Caleb Beasley was hot from the free throw line where he was 5 f

With one of the nation’s premier basketball rivalries resuming Dec. 28, Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville and Mayor Jim Gray of Lexington are putting a friendly wager on the line: The winning mayor gets the opportunity to show off his hometown track.

“When the Cards win with their superior team-work, experience and quickness, I will be honored to host Mayor Gray for a day at the races during the spring meet at the world’s most famous racetrack -- Churchill Downs,” Fischer said.

The Butler County Lady Bears basketball team took to the road last week to play in the Lady Dragons Holiday Invitational at South Oldham High School.

On Friday, December 20, the Lady Bears fell to Clinton County 62-44.  Butler County squared off against host South Oldham on Saturday, losing 46-32.  South Oldham is coached by Christy Higdon, former coach at Butler County High School.  In its final game on Sunday, the Lady Bears fell to a very athletic team from Male HIgh School (Louisville) 75-43.