North Butler scored the first 18 points of the game then held off a Tipton fourth quarter rally in a 56-40 win in the class 2A opener at the girls’ state tournament. Erin Brocka survived foul trouble to finish with a game-high 17 points forth Butler, including six of eight from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Brocka says after sitting on the bench with foul trouble in the third quarter, she knew she had to get into the game in the fourth quarter.
Tipton went scoreless the first ten and a half minutes but cut the North Butler lead to single digits several times in the fourth quarter. Brocka says the Bearcats have been involved in enough tough games that they were able to maintain their composure during Tipton’s comeback. She says they held their ground without panicking. North Butler improves to 26-1. Tipton closes out the season 22-4.
AGWSR roared out to a 17-2 lead and the Cougars beat Solon 67-48 in the 2A opening round. Coach Bruce Dall says he thought his team was confident and loose coming out. He says teams are sometimes tight the first game at state, but he was impressed that his team was loose.
Solon coach Mark Sovers says AGWSR got after his team right at the start and says it’s hard to recover when you dig and early hole. AGWSR will take a 26-0 record into the semifinals. Solon closes out 18-9.