Grizzlies Clinch Share of KJCCC Title, Secure No. 2 Seed After Win Over Colby
EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler Grizzlies secured a share of the KJCCC regular‑season championship for the first time since the 2014–15 campaign, defeating the Colby Trojans 82–65 on Wednesday night inside the Power Plant.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
31 | 34 | 65 |
|
|
34 | 48 | 82 |
Team Stats
Colby
| Game Statistics | Colby | #19 Butler |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (23-54) | (27-73) |
| Field Goal % | 42.6% | 37.0% |
| Rebounds | 34 | 46 |
| Assists | 15 | 22 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 13 | 22 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 10 | 15 |
| Pts in the Paint | 32 | 16 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 21 | 40 |
EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler Grizzlies secured a share of the KJCCC regular‑season championship for the first time since the 2014–15 campaign, defeating the Colby Trojans 82–65 on Wednesday night inside the Power Plant.
With Barton's win over Cowley, the Grizzlies and Cougars finished tied atop the standings. Barton claimed the tiebreaker after sweeping Butler during the regular season, giving the Grizzlies (21-9, 17-7 KJCCC) the No. 2 seed in the Region 6 Tournament.
Colby fell to 7-23 overall and 5-19 in conference play, earning the No. 12 seed. Butler receives a first‑round bye and will host the winner of Saturday's matchup between No. 7 Independence and No. 10 Fort Hays Tech Northwest on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The championship marks a major milestone for second‑year head coach Eric Nitsche, who has guided Butler back to the top of the conference behind a high‑octane offense and relentless full‑court pressure. The Grizzlies entered the night ranked second nationally in scoring at 103.9 points per game, but it was their defense that set the tone against Colby, holding the Trojans to just 65 points.
Despite tying their season low in scoring and shooting just 37 percent from the field, Butler controlled the game with pace, ball movement, and defensive intensity. The Grizzlies went 17‑for‑55 from beyond the arc and nearly perfect at the free‑throw line (11‑for‑12), while assisting on 22 of their 27 made baskets.
After shooting only 31.7 percent in the first half, Butler surged in the second, hitting 43.8 percent from the floor and knocking down 10 three‑pointers to pull away.
Freshman Tristan Hankins delivered a standout performance, scoring a game‑high 20 points on 50 percent shooting. Xavier Brown added 14 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench, providing a crucial spark.
Next up: Butler hosts the winner of Saturday's Independence–Fort Hays Tech Northwest matchup on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Region 6 Quarterfinal.
