Butler Blasts Hutchinson 102–73 to Claim Top Spot in Conference
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 25 Butler Grizzlies rolled past rival Hutchinson 102–73 on Monday night, taking over sole possession of first place in the KJCCC standings.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
51 | 51 | 102 |
|
|
36 | 37 | 73 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | #25 Butler | Hutchinson |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (40-91) | (26-58) |
| Field Goal % | 44.0% | 44.8% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 43 |
| Assists | 19 | 21 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 27 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 29 | 11 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 24 | 4 |
| Pts in the Paint | 38 | 40 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 16 | 17 |
| Bench Pts | 46 | 13 |
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 25 Butler Grizzlies rolled past rival Hutchinson 102–73 on Monday night, taking over sole possession of first place in the KJCCC standings.
Butler (14–6, 10–4) used a late first‑half surge and a dominant second half to avenge November's 83–82 loss to the Blue Dragons. Hutchinson (10–10, 5–9) kept pace early, but the Grizzlies exploded for 31 points in the final eight minutes of the first half while holding the Blue Dragons to 16, building a 51–36 halftime lead.
Hutchinson opened the second half with a 9–2 run to trim the margin to 53–45, but Butler quickly slammed the door. The Grizzlies outscored the Blue Dragons 51–37 the rest of the way and led by as many as 30 with 8:47 remaining.
The 102‑point performance marks the 13th time this season Butler has reached the century mark.
With the win, the Grizzlies stand alone atop the Jayhawk Conference at 10–4, one game ahead of Dodge City, Independence, and Seward County (all 9–5).
Butler shot 44 percent from the field (40–91) and knocked down 17 of 48 from three. Hutchinson shot 44.8 percent (26–58), but the difference came in turnovers. The Grizzly defense forced 27 Hutchinson giveaways and racked up 20 steals, helping Butler attempt 33 more shots than the Blue Dragons.
Four Grizzlies scored in double figures: Devin Kerr, Aiven Riley, and Tim Walker II each finished with 14 points, while freshman guard Tristan Hankins added 13.
Next up: Butler returns to the Power Plant on Wednesday to host the Pratt Beavers, who earned their third conference win Monday against Garden City. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
