Butler survives miscues

Ever watch a toddler eat pumpkin pie with their bare hands? Well, Friday night's Thomson-Butler boys' basketball game might have been even sloppier.

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The two teams spent most of the evening topping each other's offensive futility before Butler used a 6-2 run to end the game and survive with a 44-39 victory.

"I don't know how to describe it," Butler coach Rob Johnson said after watching his squad commit 33 turnovers in the victory. "I've never been involved in an uglier game."

Butler's problem was its inability to hold onto the ball, often hurling questionable passes that were snatched away by a quicker Thomson team. Thomson's problem was its woeful shooting, with many of those off-target shots getting scooped up by a taller Butler squad.

The result, as Johnson said, was ugly.

"Our offense was terrible," Butler junior forward Brenton Harris said. "When they pressed us, I guess it just shocked us and we couldn't get open."

Thomson couldn't take advantage. Butler committed 17 turnovers in the first half, yet led 21-11 at the break, mainly because Thomson missed 24 of its first 27 shots. During one first-half stretch, Butler threw the ball away on five straight possessions, but Thomson responded with only four points. Butler then went on a 7-0 run to take its 10-point halftime lead.

Thomson coach Michael Thomas felt the poor offense was at least partially due to inconsistent officiating.

"I think that got both teams out of rhythm," Thomas said. "You never get a feel for the game because they won't let the game progress the way it should."

Thomson hung around in the second half after Terry Hill scored 10 straight points to cut the Butler deficit to 25-23. Thomson then went 5:26 without scoring.

Of course, Butler had trouble extending its lead because of its carelessness with the ball.

"I told them I bet we had to set a school record for turnovers," Johnson said.

- In the girls' game, Shakia Bouttry scored 11 points to help Thomson down Butler 50-35. Adrienne Stuckey led Butler with 13.