No. 15 Butler Quells Coffeyville With Big Second Half
El Dorado, KS (Wednesday, December 1, 2021) – Behind Eden Holt’s 26 points, Butler advances to 9-1 on the season (4-1 in conference) with a 61-52 win at the Power Plant. Trailing by one, 23-22, at half, the Grizzlies won the second half 39-29, ending a four game skid to the defending national Champion Red Ravens (5-5; 2-2).
Holt scored 14 of his teams 22 in the first half to keep things close. His running triple just at the end of the half cut the deficit to one, giving the Grizzlies a big lift going into the locker room.
In a defensive minded slug-fest, ball possession is even more essential than in wide open games. Butler had a plus five rebounding margin, but more importantly, 23 of their 30 total boards came on the defensive end, limiting Coffeyville to many one and dones. Marque English only scored 7 points, but led the team with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.
Besides Holt’s game high points, only one other Grizzly reached double figures. Isaac Ondekane finished with 14. Noah Butler came off the bench to lead the Red Ravens with ten. Love Bettis, averaging nearly 18 ppg, was held below double digits for only the second time this season, ended with 9 points and 4 helpers.
Neither team shot well, 40% to 35% in favor of Butler, but Coffeyville was a casual 2-14 from distance which added to their offensive deficiencies. Holt went 6-13 from outside the arc on his own for BCC.
Butler will make the trip to Hutchinson on Saturday, where they will try to end another streak. The Grizzlies have lost three in a row at the Sports Arena, dating back to Jan. 2015. But that won’t be easy, Hutch will enter the game as the nations #4 ranked team, with an unblemished record of 11-0.
