Lady Gators survive road test at Butler County
Published 10:14 am Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Greenwood’s bench cheers after a basket during the Gators’ win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County junior Ann Marie Skaggs (3) defends Greenwood freshman Molly Spidel (15) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County’s bench cheers after a basket during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County junior Karrington Hunt (12) is defended by Greenwood junior Ava Morrison (30) and Greenwood freshman Molly Spidel (15) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Greenwood eighth grader Lillian Freeman (20) defends Butler County junior Ann Marie Skaggs (3) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County junior Ann Marie Skaggs (3) is defended by Greenwood eighth grader Lillian Freeman (20) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County junior Ann Marie Skaggs (3) is defended by Greenwood sophomore Molly Tandy (10) and Greenwood junior Ava Morrison (30) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County sophomore Ava Wilson (24) drives to the basket during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
Butler County senior Bailey Moore (4) dribbles past sophomore Ava Wilson (24), Greenwood senior Savannah White (5) and Greenwood eighth grader Anzlee Hendrix (1) during Greenwood’s win against Butler County on Monday, Feb. 3.
MORGANTOWN – For the Greenwood girls’ basketball team, Monday’s game at Butler County wasn’t exactly a final exam that determined its postseason fate. It was more like a pop quiz, with the Lady Gators having enough answers to hold on for a 71-69 win over the Lady Bears.
Greenwood (11-11) overcame an early deficit, major foul trouble and a late surge from host Butler County to find a way to escape with a road win and move back to .500 on the season.
“I thought it was good to learn how to overcome adversity the way we just did,” Greenwood coach Terrance Williams said. “I thought it was good for them to play this type of game at this point and time in the season. We can learn and build off it.”
Butler County (9-11) had the lead before the game officially began with Greenwood assessed a technical foul for a scorebook error and Ava Wilson connecting on two free throws to give the Lady Bears a 2-0 lead.
It was the start of an 8-0 run for Butler County, which was able to push the margin to 18-9 late in the first quarter.
Greenwood responded with an 11-0 run, getting its first lead on a 3-pointer from Molly Tandy that made the score 20-19 early in the second quarter.
Wilson’s bucket briefly put the Lady Bears back in front before Molly Spidel scored nine straight points for Greenwood to help the Lady Gators build a 29-25 advantage.
The lead grew to 40-32 after a 3 from Tandy with 30 seconds remaining in the half before Butler County got a late bucket to trim the deficit to six at the half.
Butler County opened the third quarter with five straight to cut the margin to one, but Greenwood was able to regain the momentum – pushing its advantage back out to 53-44 with 3:08 left in the third.
Greenwood was unable to maintain that momentum with a trio of players – Spidel, Anzlee Hendrix and Ava Morrison – forced to sit after picking up their fourth foul in the final minutes of the third quarter.
The Lady Gators were able to maintain a 62-55 lead heading into the fourth, but Butler County used an 8-0 run in the first two minutes of the final quarter to briefly go back in front. The Lady Bears were unable to extend that advantage over the next two minutes, giving Greenwood a chance to bring back the players in foul trouble.
“All credit to Mia Murrell,” Williams said. “All credit to Lily Padgett, Savannah White – all of our players outside that group stepped up and played tremendously when they had to.”
With everyone back on the floor, Tandy gave Greenwood the lead back with a jumper. After Butler County split a pair of free throws to tie the score at 64-all with 3:33 left, Tandy’s 3 sparked a 7-0 spurt that gave Greenwood a 71-64 lead going into the final 90 seconds.
Butler County had one more push – scoring five straight, including a layup by Wilson with 3.8 seconds left, to pull within two. The Lady Bears got a chance to complete the comeback stealing the inbounds pass after Wilson’s bucket, but Tinslea Belcher was unable to connect on a 3 as time expired.
“I tried to get a timeout on that, but Tinslea threw it up and gave it a chance,” Butler County coach Lexie Belcher said. “We’ve been talking all season about finishing the game – all four quarters. Fortunately it is the time of the year where you need to be playing your best, but unfortunately we keep coming up just a little bit short every night. I’m hoping that translates in the next couple of games where we are coming out on top instead of losing by just a few.”
Greenwood had four players finish in double figures. Spidel led the way with 19 points. Tandy added 18 points, while White finished with 13 points and Hendrix chipped in with 12 points.
“I really think our girls can play this game at a high level,” Williams said. “We are just young and make a lot of young mistakes. We have a lot of good players that can shoot from the 3. They are learning defensively.”
Wilson had a game-high 26 points for Butler County. Ann Marie Skaggs added 17 points and Belcher finished with 10 points.
“I think this (win) is going to help us,” Spidel said. “This is going to be similar to (the district tournament). It’s going to be loud and crazy. There is going to be a bunch of fouls and it is just gonna to get really heated in there, so I feel like this is really going to help us.”
Both teams return to action at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Greenwood hosts South Warren, while Butler County hosts Edmonson County.
GHS 17 23 22 9 – 71
BCHS 19 15 21 14 – 69
GHS – Spidel 19, Tandy 18, White 13, Hendrix 12, Cannon 3, Nealon 2, Morrison 2, Murrell 1, Padgett 1.
BC – Wilson 26, Skaggs 17, T. Belcher 10, Hunt 9, Cardwell 7.
