For the eighth consecutive season, the Grizzlies have hit the 20-win mark on the season, this one coming on the road in come back fashion over Neosho, 76-69.
Neosho leads the country in three-point attempts this season and is a team that can get hot quickly. That is exactly what happened Wednesday night in Chanute as Neosho came out firing and took a 20-12 first quarter lead over the Grizzlies and went onto increase that lead in the second quarter to an 11-point halftime lead.
Neosho shot 43% from the floor and 38% from deep in the first half while Butler struggled from deep going just 1/8 and shot only 34% from the floor in the first half.
The script was flipped in the second half as the Grizzlies started pounding the ball inside to freshman forward Tamara Nard who was able to dominate around the basket finishing the night with 33 points on 16 of 28 shooting.
The Grizzlies outscored the Panthers 26-15 in the third quarter and tied the game up heading into the final quarter after a Zayda Perez put back basket.
"We just started playing better defense in the second half," said head coach Mike Helmer. "We contested shots and started rebounding better. After halftime we settled down and came out more focused."
Butler took their first lead of the game in the first minute of the fourth quarter, a lead they would never give up again. The Panthers would never fold but the Grizzlies were too strong defensively late to hold the lead and finish the game on top.
Tamara Nard led all scorers on the night finishing with a career high 33 points. She chalked up eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block to go along with her game high. RaVon Nero was the other Grizzly in double figure scoring on the night scoring 17 points in the contest.
"She played really well," said Helmer on freshman Tamara Nard. "I am very proud of her, however, her teammates deserve a lot of credit because they did a great job of getting her the ball."
Butler held the Panthers to just 24% shooting in the second half while forcing 28 Neosho turnovers. The Grizzlies also led on the glass outrebounding Neosho 50-38.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Butler (20-8, 13-5) is tied atop the KJCCC East with Coffeyville (23-5, 13-5). The Grizzlies will take on Cowley (18-9, 8-9) on Wednesday, February 19th at 5:30pm at home in the Power Plant. They will take on Coffeyville that Saturday, February 22nd on the road in Coffeyville.
