Kirkwood Banks in Game-Winning Three to Send Grizzlies to Region 6 Title Game

GREAT BEND, Kan. – Josiah Kirkwood banked in the game winning three with 1.5 seconds left to lift the Butler Grizzlies over the Cowley Tigers to advance to the Region 6 title game.

Friday night meant redemption for Butler sophomore guard Josiah Kirkwood. In last season's Region 6 Semifinal game vs Cowley, the Grizzlies were in position to send Cowley home packing, leading the Tigers 54-51 with only 54 seconds to go. Then freshman Josiah Kirkwood turned the ball over on three straight possessions down the stretch that resulted in Cowley taking the lead and ultimately winning the game 58-54, ending the Grizzlies season. Fast forward a year later, Kirkwood became the hero for the Grizzlies. 

.@JosiahKirkwood_ banks in the game winning three with 1.5 seconds left for the win and to advance @BucoMBB to the Region 6 title game!#roargrizz�� pic.twitter.com/OKX6H4xRQc

— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 14, 2026

Trailing 98-95 with 57 seconds left, the Grizzlies attempted a three for the tie but was off the mark, until Tim Walker II got the offensive rebound and made an incredible tip in to cut the lead back to one with 54 seconds to go. 

On the following Cowley possession, the Tigers' Marcus Smith made a layup with 38 seconds remaining. Butler then raced down the floor and freshman Xavier Brown was fouled on a drive to the rack and sent him to the free throw line, where he went 2-2 and cut the Cowley lead back down to one. 

Cowley was fouled on the next possession and made both of their free throws to again go up by three, 102-99 with 22 seconds to go. Sophomore returner Devin Kerr made a three from the left wing to tie the game at 102 with 12 seconds left, and the Grizzlies immediately called a timeout. 

Out of the timeout, the Grizzlies committed a foul in the back court with eight seconds left. With the Tigers being in the double bonus, Cowley's CJ Majors made both free throws to retake the lead 104-102. Kirkwood received the inbound and raced down the floor and pulled up a three from the top of the key with the defender buried right in his face and banked it in with 1.5 seconds left. 

Cowley launched a half-court heave at the buzzer that was wide right, as Kirkwood's three sent the Grizzlies to the Region 6 title game for the first time since the 2022-23 season. 

The Grizzlies pick up win number 23 on the year, now 23-9 overall. Cowley's season ends with the loss, finishing the season 20-13. 

The Grizzlies were stone cold from the field in the first half, shooting only 33.3 percent compared to Cowley's 56.3 percent. Despite the cold shooting start, the Grizzlies only trailed by six, 48-42, heading into the break. 

The second half was the complete opposite for the Grizzlies as they shot 53.8 percent in the second half and went nine of 19 from deep. Cowley also shot at an incredible rate in the second half as they went 21 of 31 from the field at a 67.7 percent clip. 

Butler outscored Cowley 63-56 in the second half. 

Cowley outrebounded the Grizzlies 40-38 and had 19 assists compared to the Grizzlies 14. Cowley did have 21 turnovers, four more than the Grizzlies. Butler had 25 points off turnovers on the night. 

It really was a memorable night for Josiah Kirkwood. While banking in the game winning three, Kirkwood also scored a career high 26 points on eight of 12 shooting and five of seven from behind the arc. Kirkwood also went five of seven from the foul line. 

Freshman Xavier Brown was a spark plug off the bench for the Grizzlies. Brown tied his career high 23 points. Brown shot seven of 12 from the field, including going three of six from three and six of eight from the charity stripe. 

It was an off night for the recently announced KJCCC Co-Player and Freshman of the Year Tristan Hankins. Despite not making a single basket in the first half, Hankins still finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. 

Devin Kerr and Tim Walker II each finished with 12 points on the night. 

Next up: The No. 2 seeded Butler Grizzlies will now take on their co-conference champion and No. 1 seeded Barton Cougars on Saturday at 5 p.m. inside Fleske Fieldhouse for the Region 6 Championship.