The Butler did it
Minerva post player Chelsea Butler does in Lady Knights at Regionals
By Kevin Lynch
March 11, 2010
547
As is often the case in a murder mystery, the butler did it.
In the Division II Regional semifinal Tuesday, March 9, at Tri-Valley High School, it was Minervas 6-4 Chelsea Butler who killed any hope of the Lady Knights advancing.
Butler poured in 23 points, connecting on eight-of 11 shots from the floor and making good on seven-of-nine trips to the foul line to lead the Lions to a 47-39 triumph over West Holmes.
She had her way a lot, and apparently she got fouled a lot going to the basket, said West Holmes coach Lisa Patterson.
Butler scored the first basket of the game on a stickback, but Paige Asche answered with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Knights a 3-2 lead. From that point on, the defenses took over and points came at a premium. It was 7-7 after the first period.
The Lions took control in the second period.
We got the ball inside early and Chelsea did a great job of using her moves, Minerva coach Bruce Wright said. Her power move and a finesse move, where she fakes right and goes left; she made a couple of those. We got a couple threes which were a result of them doubling down on Chelsea. In the transition and the chaos, we got Taylor (Maurer) open.
West Holmes had a hard time getting its offense going in the second quarter, but as Wright pointed out, the defense of the Lions had a lot to do with that.
Did you see our switching go on out there, Wright asked. Our hedging on the ball screens, and switching, sometimes two and three times off their picks, and everybody was communicating and staying with whom they belonged.
That is hard to do with all their screens, the coach added. Our biggest fear was not being able to handle all their screens. We moved them further away from the bucket. We were making them be very patient.
And the patience turned into four consecutive empty possessions to open the second quarter, and Minerva opened a 15-7 lead, as Lindsey Arnold picked up her third foul and watched a good portion of the second period from the sidelines.
With our two Lindseys (Arnold and Snyder) sitting on the bench for most of the first half, they sat longer than they needed to. That hurt, Patterson said. Anybody who has watched us for any length of time knows that.
The Lions roared to a 22-11 lead at the half.
West Holmes came back hungry in the third quarter, scoring each of the first four times down the floor. Bethany Molnar scored on a jump shot, a stickback and a couple free throws.
Minerva answered, however, and maintained a 33-23 lead after three.
West Holmes was on the verge of making a run in the fourth quarter after Arnold drained a 3-pointer and Justice Wright followed suit to pull the Lady Knights within 35-29.
Butler answered with a three-point play and Arnold came right back with a three-point play of her own and West Holmes trailed 38-32 midway through the fourth quarter.
A Minerva turnover gave the Lady Knights a chance at gaining even more momentum, but Tosha Fields stole the ball from Asche and cruised in for a lay-up that thwarted any hopes of a West Holmes comeback.
After a timeout, West Holmes came up empty on a pair of 3-point shots and Butler stretched the lead back out to 10 with a bunny.
Arnold nailed another 3-pointer to trim the lead back to 43-37 inside a minute, but it was too little too late. She fouled out with 26 seconds remaining. The senior mighty mite finished her brilliant career at West Holmes with 11 points.
Molnar added 10 points and nine points to lead the Lady Knights offense.
I thought Bethany Molnar played one heck of a game, Patterson said. Shes always the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. She always gave 110 percent, and helped the younger kids. She doesnt always fill up the stat sheet, but to me, she was the player of the game. Her determination and effort was unmatched for a 5-5 post player.
These four seniors (Molnar, Arnold, Jasmine Troyer and Shelbie Henderson) were a big part of our team and the success weve enjoyed the past four years, Patterson added. They will be missed dearly.
We did a good job of containing their guards. I thought if we did that, wed be right in the game, Patterson continued. We played a great second half, but...
Just too much Butler.
Minerva advances to face Miami Trace for a berth in the Division II State semifinals.
Lindsy Snyder finished with eight points and Wright added five for West Holmes. Asche had three and Rachelle Morrison scored two to round out the offensive for the Lady Knights.
Kassidy Hardgrove and Maurer each added seven points, and Fields finished with six for Minerva.
