The Butler Grizzlies opened the season with a dominating performance, leading wire to wire to start off on the right foot with a 106-33 victory over the Bethany Swedes at the Power Plant on Wednesday afternoon.
Six different players found double digits in the victory, led by Jaila Harding and Freddie Wallace who both finished with 17 points to lead all scorers. Kaylee Nero was next with 11, and Syncere Harrod, J'unti Franklin and Rani Harding all scored 10. All 12 Butler players who played found the basket as the Grizzlies were allowed to show their depth with 44 bench points. Butler made quick work of their opponents, ending the first quarter with a 25-5 lead. They would take a 51-14 lead into the locker room and it would all be academic from there.
Butler shot 55% as a team, going 45-81 and shooting 8-18 from three point range. The Grizzlies combined for 27 assists led by Maycee James who finished with eight. Butler took extreme care of the ball, finishing with only four turnovers and not allowing the Swedes to score a single point off those turnovers. The Grizzlies also finished with 13 offensive rebounds which they turned into 32 second chance points. Ashton Conley led the team on the glass with six rebounds including four offensive boards.
Butler refused to give up anything all day. The Swedes shot just 29% as a team and made only four of their 16 three pointers. Butler also forced 29 turnovers, which created 57 points off turnovers. The Grizzlies totaled 38 steals as a team led by James who had eight and Jada Knight who had seven. Anna Eldridge was huge inside for Butler as she rejected the Swedes four times, accounting for three of the four total Butler blocks. The Grizzlies also outrebounded the Swedes, finishing with 32 rebounds to Bethany's 29. The Grizzlies never allowed the Swedes to lead in the game.
Butler improves to 1-0 to open up the season. Next up for the Grizzlies will be another matchup against an NAIA opponent, as they welcome Tabor College to the Power Plant on Tuesday before heading to Northern Oklahoma for two games against Enid and Tonkawa next weekend.
