BUTTE – Thursday night’s crosstown game between the Butte Central and Butte High boys will surely go down in history as one of the best games in the storied rivalry between the two schools
It was a great game the whole way through, but the final minutes of regulation are what stamped this one as an all-time classic at the Civic Center. To recap, Butte Central’s Luke Heaphy had just hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to tie the game at 48-all. Then, on the next Butte High possession, Clay Ferguson was able to hit a layup and draw the foul for the and-one opportunity. He would hit the free throw to give the Bulldogs a 51-48 lead with 2.7 seconds left. All the Maroons could do is throw up a Hail Mary of a shot. Cade Holter did just that, and he connected from 55-feet out and the Civic Center erupted. An absolutely incredible shot to send the game into overtime. In OT, the Bulldogs were able to put the game away and win 61-57.
“I talked to my assistant and said, ‘Hey, should we switch to man so that we don’t give up a 3?’ We decided to stick with what we were doing, and they made us pay with the 3 late,” said Powers. “I mean, it was just good, fun basketball. I think that’s what the Butte High-Butte Central game is all about. Again, it’s a shame someone had to lose just an incredible basketball game.
“Then how about Cade Holter from 55 feet? I mean, we couldn’t have guarded him better, and that kid’s just a stud,” .
