Helmer picks up win number 300 as Butler defeats Trojans on the road

It was a historic night in Colby, Kansas as the Butler Grizzlies defeated the Trojans 62-54, for head coach Mike Helmer's 300th win as head coach of the Grizzlies.

Helmer got to his 300th win in his 14th season as head of the Grizzlies. His record in that span is 300-117. The Grizzlies, ranked 13th in the nation after moving up four spots in the NJCAA polls this week, improved to 6-0 on the year and got their first win in conference play Wednesday night in the Trojans new Event Center.

The Grizzlies were led by Mekayla Furman, who scored a career high 19 points to lead all scorers. Ashlei Kirven also had a great night, finishing with 16 points and going 6-10 from the field on the night, also finishing with 13 rebounds for the double double.

The game was close throughout, Butler took a one point lead into the locker room and got outscored in the third quarter trailing by as many as nine points in the quarter. Butler didn't fold as they closed the game with a 21 point fourth quarter to wrap up the comeback win. The Grizzlies had a poor shooting night, finishing just 32% from the field and 1-12 from outside, but made up for it by dominating the glass, outrebounding the Trojans 38-30 and finishing the game with 13 crucial second chance points. Syncere Harrod starred on the defensive end, finishing the game with four steals, as Butler took the ball away a total of 10 times overall. 

Butler will hope to get remain unbeaten and earn win number 301 for coach Helmer when they return home on Saturday for a game against Seward County at the Power Plant in El Dorado.