After the 2020 NJCAA National Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Butler Grizzlies women's basketball team was in shock and left without any end to their memorable season.
"I felt we were playing so well at the end of last season," said head coach Mike Helmer, "and to have everything stripped from you so quickly, everything you worked for all year long, that hurt all of us."
The Grizzlies approached this season with two goals in mind; first off, they wanted to safely come back to school, practice and compete and secondly, they had some unfinished business to attend to at the end of the year.
That unfinished business was a return trip to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball tournament, which, for the third consecutive season, Butler has made it to.
"Not only did we have players not get to play in the National Tournament last season, but we have some freshman who missed their state championships as high school seniors," commented Helmer. "So, there was a lot of chips on the shoulders of this team and staff and that was shown over the course of the season and paid off."
The Grizzlies fell in the semifinal round of the Region VI tournament falling 53-49 to the Barton Cougars, losing their first Region VI tournament game since the 2017-18 season as they have won the last two.
Butler was 99.9% sure they had done enough in the regular season to impress the at-large tournament committee building quite the resume over the last three months.
Butler Women's Basketball Resume:
Ranked inside NJCAA TOP 20 9 out 10 polls this season (missed 1st poll)
Ranked inside NJCAA TOP 10 last five polls of the year
Highest ranking was No. 6 on March 8th, 2021
20-3 overall, played only one NON-NJCAA DIV. I team this season
Won the KJCCC East for third straight season (18-2 in conference play)
First Region VI Tournament loss since 2017-18 season
Have won the last two Region VI Tournaments, lost by four to Barton this season
No. 1 in NJCAA in FG% defense almost the entire season
Defeated No. 11 ranked Hutchinson on Feb. 3
Defeated No. 23 Seward on Feb. 11
Won 13 games to start the season
All three losses were by avg. of 7-points
The list above was enough for the committee to recognize the Grizzlies and they were selected as one of the eight at-large teams invited to the tournament and came in at No. 12.
They will face the No. 21 seeded Otero Junior College Rattlers out of Otero, Colorado and Region IX on Monday, April 19 at 8:00pm from the RIP Griffin Center in Lubbock, TX. The Rattlers went 18-3 overall and 9-1 in conference play this season. Winner will play No. 5 seeded Northwest Florida State on Wednesday, April 21 at 3:00pm.
The Matchup:
| No. 12 Butler Grizzlies |
No. 21 Otero Rattlers |
| PPG- 74.7 | PPG- 72.3 |
| FG%- 43.1 | FG%- 39.2 |
| 3PT%- 26.5 | 3PT%- 26.7 |
| FT%- 64.7 | FT%- 68.4 |
| Reb/G- 44.5 | Reb/G- 40.3 |
| PPG Allowed- 53.4 | PPG Allowed- 59.5 |
| Opp. FG%- 30.2% | Opp. FG%- 35.6% |
| Opp. 3PT%- 22.2% | Opp. 3PT%- 29.4% |
"I am so excited that this group gets to go to the tournament," said head coach Mike Helmer. "Last year our team did everything right and earned a spot in last year's tournament and couldn't go because of the pandemic and that was tough. So, I am really happy for our team and that they will get the opportunity to compete at the highest stage."
Butler is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA in field goal % defense keeping teams to under 30% shooting during the regular season and will look to their defense to help them in making a run in this year's tournament.
"Offense can come and go but you can always control your effort and attitude and that is what defense is," commented Helmer. "Stat wise, this is the best defensive team in Butler history. If we can correct a few mistakes and execute on the offensive side of the ball, we can be a dangerous team with a lot of weapons."
This will be the Grizzlies fourth national tournament appearance, all under head coach Mike Helmer who has coached the Grizzlies to a 2-2 record at the National Tournament.
2013-14 - Salina, KS:
Butler defeated Southwest Mississippi 69-31, won against Shelton State 51-39 and fell in the quarterfinal round 64-54 to Chipola.
2018-19 - Lubbock, TX:
Butler lost in the opening round to Northwest Florida State 51-50
2019-20 – Lubbock, TX:
Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19
2020-21 – Lubbock, TX:
Will face Otero Junior College on Monday, April 19 at 8:00pm
In a year that brought more challenges than ever both on and off the court, the Grizzlies showed resiliency though it all. Butler finished the shortened regular season with a 20-3 overall record, 18-2 in KJCCC play winning their third consecutive KJCCC East title. Sophomore forward Tamara Nard picked up Most Valuable Player honors in the KJCCC East while head coach Mike Helmer won Coach of the Year for the third straight season. Tamara Nard and Skyla Knight were named to the All-KJCCC first team list while Paris Mullins picked up second-team honors and Kaylee Nero was named to the Honorable Mention list.
"I am really going to remember this team not only for what they have accomplished on the court but really for what we have all had to go through together," said Helmer. "There was no one and nowhere to turn for help on how to navigate this past year, so we had to do it together, as a team and as a family. That is what I will remember most about this amazing group of young ladies."
