After both teams suffered first round losses, the Butler Bears and Adrian Blackhawks were slated to duel it out on the hardwood for the second round of the Butler Tournament. Both Bates County Teams were searching for an early spark to their seasons, as the winner of the showdown would certainly receive a momentum boost for the remainder of the year. The Butler-Adrian rivalry is a storied one, and each team was ready to duke it out for the title of ‘Best in Bates’.
The Bears controlled the tip and Lucas Davidson started all scoring with a hard drive to the basket, the Blackhawks followed by a pair of interior buckets of their own. The opening few moments saw each team trade baskets with a score of 4-4 with 4 minutes to go in the opening. Davidson again found the bottom of the hoop on two consecutive trips down the court to take an 8-4 Butler advantage. Ryan Kramer earned an and-one basket to pull Adrian back with-in 1 with an 8-7 score before he would drive to the rack and gift the Blackhawks a 9-8 lead. In the final minute of the quarter each team again traded scores leading to an 11-10 total in favor of Adrian after 8 minutes.
Jake Chandler would give the Bears the lead back with a quick finger roll to open the 2nd period. After yet another Blackhawks post score, a triple by Talley, and a drive by Kendrick the Blackhawks found themselves with their largest lead thus far at 18-12. The Bears would finally respond and it was Davidson once again who scored for Butler, but it was answered by continued dominance in the painted area by the Blackhawks. At halftime, the Blackhawks were in control with a score of 22-16.
Out of the locker room, the Bears showed some offensive aggression as Chandler drove the lane and earned a trip to the free throw line where he buried a pair to close the margin to just a 4 point Adrian advantage. Hubbard sunk a corner three, after which both teams traded scores until Chandler drove home a trifecta and then took a charge for the Bears which he followed up with another three pointer. Jake’s heroics led to a 6-0 Butler run that brought them within 2 as the scoreboard read 28-26. Adrian, feeling the momentum shift, took a time out to try and regroup. Following the time out, Adrian again looked inside and earned a trip to the line, however they would miss of a pair of free throws, giving the ball back to Butler where Chandler found himself with a pair of free throws as well. Jake tied the game at 28-28 with his trip. To close out the 3rd, Engelhardt went baseline for a bucket and gave the Blackhawks a 32-31 lead going into the fourth and final.
After multiple empty possessions for each squad, Talley finally opened the cup with a post score for Adrian which led to a 13-0 Blackhawks run. Trailing by 14 the Bears finally scored their first points of the 4th with a three by Jesse Carter with just at 3 minutes to go. Carter followed up his triple with a steal, after which Wisdom converted a conventional 3-point to bring the score to 45-37. After an Adrian time-out, the Blackhawks regained composure and continued to control the closing period. Jesse Carter sunk another shot from range, but with just 43 seconds remaining the Blackhawks felt comfortable with a 48-40 lead. Adrian would emerge victorious with a final score of 51-40.
Kramer led all scores with 23, followed by Chandler with 16 points. Engelhardt pitched in 13 for Adrian while Lucas Davidson finished with 10 for Butler.
The Bears and Blackhawks proved to be a highly competitive contest, with the Bears roaring back in the third to push Adrian. However, in the end the Blackhawks outlasted Butler on their way to a win.
