After suffering 3-point loss at the Pit, Butler College Prep coach wants to see QND girls in state title game

QUINCY — Butler College Prep girls basketball coach Xaver Walton got exactly what he wanted.

The Lynx returned seven players from last year’s team that lost by three points to Minonk Fieldcrest in the Class 2A super-sectional. When Walton learned defending Class 2A state champion Quincy Notre Dame was looking for a team to play in the Gully Transportation Shootout on the day after Thanksgiving, he quickly grabbed the opportunity to make the five-hour drive.

“I said, ‘Hey, let’s go play the state champs from last year, because I honestly believe the 2A trophy that Notre Dame won last year should have been ours,” Walton said. “Let’s go play the best team to see early to see where we’re at.”

Leading by five points with less than five minutes remaining in the game, Butler found out why QND will be difficult to knock off the Class 2A throne.

Senior Abbey Schreacke, the Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year in Illinois last season, scored 35 points in the game and 12 points in the final five minutes. She broke a tie score with a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left in the game, and QND held on to defeat the Lynx 63-60 Friday night at the Pit.

Raiders coach Eric Orne looked forward to the game as much as Walton.

“We were looking for Fieldcrest to come in, and Butler was my second option,” Orne said about scheduling for the shootout. “I wanted to try to play another team from the other side of the (state tournament) bracket, and we definitely wanted to see somebody athletic who returned a lot of players.”

Notre Dame led by nine points with 1:50 to play in the second quarter. However, Butler closed to within 37-32 at halftime. The Lynx then held the hosts to eight points in the third quarter and trailed 45-44 entering the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Sage Stratton made two free throws for QND to open the fourth quarter scoring, but the Lynx scored the next eight points. Xamiya Walton, the coach’s oldest daughter, made a 3-pointer to tie the score. Yahri Smith made another 3-pointer to put the Lynx in front. A backdoor layup by Xyanna Walton, the coach’s youngest daughter, put Butler ahead 52-47 with 4:52 remaining.

Schreacke quickly tied the score on a jumper in the lane and an old-fashioned 3-point play. Butler then led 54-52, 56-54 and 58-56, but the Raiders tied the score each time.

After a timeout, the Raiders’ Ari Buehler combined with Stratton for a double-team that forced the ball out of Xaimya Walton’s hands. Butler’s Sereniti Adams turned the ball over after a 5-second violation with 1:22 remaining.

“We really wanted the ball out of (Xamiya Walton’s) hands, because we knew she was their offense,” Schreacke said. “Ari did a great job. She got her in that pickle, and that was kind of a game changer. (Adams) didn’t have anywhere to go.”

The Raiders didn’t take a shot and called a timeout with 51 seconds remaining, then ran an inbounds play to get the ball to Schreacke at the top of the key. She moved a step to her right around a screen from Mara Ippensen and drained the go-ahead 3-pointer.

“When we got the ball in, (Butler) came and doubled Sage,” Stratton said. “She was smart enough to get rid of it right away. We didn’t really have a play written up. Mara was a great pressure release. She knew what to do, and that just really freed me up. It just kind of worked out perfectly. It was too wide open.”

“(Schreacke) had a couple options coming off that,” Orne said. “We were really looking for the drive, but she has a good feel for the game. She knew she had to step back, and she nailed it.”

Adams made two free throws with 29 seconds left to get Butler within 61-60, but the Lynx didn’t foul Schreacke until seven seconds remained. She made two free throws, and Xamiya Walton’s desperation 3-pointer from the corner as time expired wasn’t close.

Buehler had nine points and Stratton had eight for Notre Dame (3-0). Xamiya Walton led the Lynx (2-1) with 25, and Adams added 15. 

“When we shook hands, I told Abbey, ‘Great game, good luck in college,’” Xaver Walton said. “I told all the other girls good game, and then I saw Coach Eric. He said, ‘You had your girls prepared, Coach.’ I said thank you. 

“Then I said, ‘I expect to play you again on the first Saturday of March’ (for the state championship).”