Disney on Ice was the theme for Butler High School’s court-warming on Friday night. The Bears Den was packed and cozy as snow and ice flurried outside, setting the stage for a fun night in the Den. Versailles was Butler’s opponent on the evening.

After the Butler Bear Brigade played the National Anthem, it was game time. The Lady Bears began the night with a post basket off the hands of Kylee Dubray. Stout defense and wise shot selection allowed Butler to open up an 8-1 lead just two minutes into the contest. The Bears’ early scoring output led to Versailles burning a timeout early.

Out of the break, the Tigers finally scored their first field goal, drilling a triple from the top of the key to bring the score to 10-4. Defense continued to turn into offense for the Bears, as turnovers converted into buckets and sparked a 6-2 run to close out the opening quarter.

The Lady Bears found themselves in control with a 16-6 lead to start the second period. Kylee Dubray stood strong under the basket, taking an offensive charge early in the second, but Butler gave the ball back to the Tigers, who capitalized on the possession by going 1-for-2 from the stripe.

The Bears’ offense faced some early woes in the second, allowing Versailles to open on a 5-0 run. Kylee took her second charge of the contest, which sparked the Bears. Her sister, Kiersten, went 1-for-2 from the line, Kylee cleaned up the glass, and then earned a trip to the stripe herself after being fouled on a put-back attempt. Butler now led 18-11.

The Lady Tigers would not go away quietly, answering back with a three-pointer to narrow the deficit to 18-14. In the final two minutes before the break, the Bears were once again ignited by defensive play, this time from Kinley Cook, who took a charge and followed it up with a steal. Cook then hammered home a triple with under a minute to go, and Kiersten laid it off the glass as the buzzer sounded. Butler held a double-digit lead at the break, 28-17.

Kaydn Cook started the scoring in the second half with a pair of free throws, followed by a three-pointer from Kiersten Dubray. The teams traded buckets for a stretch, with the score sitting at 35-24 halfway through the third quarter. Kaydn found a cutting Dubray to ignite a 6-0 Bears run and force a Tigers timeout.

Following the break, Butler continued to roll, and the scoreboard reflected the effort as the Bears took a commanding 51-25 lead into the fourth quarter.

Even with the game in hand and a running clock, Butler never let off the gas, with Kylee recording the first basket of the final period. Hudson tickled the twine with a jumper as the Bears continued to ball out. When the final buzzer sounded, Butler secured a 57-33 victory.

Kiersten led all scorers with 18 points, while her sister trailed her narrowly with 16. Gabby Carmichael also contributed in a big way with 11 points of her own.

Court-warming festivities and boys action are coming shortly. Stay tuned to our page.

Photos by Erin Dubray