By Cody Morris, Tailgate TV
The Butler Lady Bears walked into Adrian on Thursday night and walked out with one of their grittiest wins of the season, knocking off the Lady Blackhawks 47–45 in a tense in-county rivalry matchup.
Butler entered the night at 8–3, while Adrian sat just ahead at 9–2, and the game played out like the records suggested. The Lady Bears set the tone early, jumping out to a 19–12 lead after the first quarter with sharp offensive execution. Adrian answered before the break, clawing back to take a slim lead into halftime and carrying that momentum into the fourth quarter, where the Lady Blackhawks held a 37–31 advantage.
That’s when Butler dug in.
The Lady Bears roared back in the final frame, leaning on defense, poise, and timely buckets to erase the deficit and steal the lead late. Butler closed strong down the stretch, sealing a 47–45 comeback victory that showcased resilience and composure under pressure.
The Dubray sisters powered the Butler offense, combining for 28 points. Kiersten Dubray led the way with 15, while Kylee Dubray added 13 in the winning effort. Adrian countered with a big night from the Engeman sisters, who totaled 30 points in the loss. Olivia Engeman finished with 20 points, and Grace Engeman chipped in 10.
In a rivalry packed with emotion and momentum swings, Butler made the final statement, proving they can respond when the game tightens and the pressure rises.
Photo by Erin Dubray