Independence upsets No. 12 Butler
Two big Southwestern 4A rivals squared off Tuesday with one team looking to keep the conference basketball lead, and one looking to take it away.
The Independence Patriots held off the Butler Bulldogs (No. 12 in the Sweet 16) down the stretch to win 50-45 to at least temporarily assume the conference lead. Following the Patriots win, Independence and Butler have identical overall and conference records (13-5, 5-1).
Independence holds the tiebreaker for now.
Patriots’ senior guard Marcus Thomas scored a game-high 22 points, with teammate Justin Hamilton also ending in double figures with 12. For Butler, senior Orlando Robinson led the Bulldogs with 16, while Raequan Scott and Gerrale Gates finished with eight points each.
In what was expected to be a high-scoring game, Independence held Butler to only 45 points, well below its nearly 75 points-per-game average. “We didn’t make shots, we didn’t make plays, and for us to score only 45 points, that’s something,” said Butler coach Myron Lowery. “I give them credit, they played good defense but we had too many opportunities that we blew.”
Leading 26-25 at the half, an early third-quarter surge by the Patriots upped the advantage to seven points, and Butler couldn’t recover. The Bulldogs did have one last chance to tie the game with a three-pointer in the final minute, but the shot clanked off the iron.
“Tempo is really big over here, and Butler is the type of team that can make runs,” said Thomas. “So I had to do my best to stop their runs.”
Butler will obviously look forward to the rematch with the Patriots, which will be the last regular-season game for both teams on February 12 at Butler.
Three who mattered
Marcus Thomas: Independence senior guard had a well-balanced game scoring 11 points in each half in leading all scorers with 22 points.
Orlando Robinson: Butler senior forward kept the Bulldogs in the game with six fourth-quarter points while scoring eight in each half to lead his team in scoring.
Justyn Hamilton: Patriots 6-10 junior center had some key defensive rebounds in the game’s final minutes while adding six second-half points.
They said it
“That kid’s come a long way and the scary thing about it is to be honest with you, he hasn’t even reached his full potential. He’s got a lot more he can do. Anytime you have your best player show up in a big game, it’s great for the team, its’ great for the fans, and he put on a show.” Independence coach Preston Davis on Tuesday’s performance by Thomas.
What’s next
Butler (13-5, 5-1) will play at Garinger Friday at 7:30 p.m. while Independence (13-5, 5-1) will play at East Mecklenburg Friday at 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 5:58 AM with the headline "Independence upsets No. 12 Butler."