Gosh I like this White County team, and they looked really balanced in their tournament championship performance last night, winning 60-48 over Livingston.  Ava Jones Ava Jones 6'1" | PF Hutchison | 2026 State TN earned MVP honors with 16 points and 7 boards.  The guards for WC were tremendous:  Gracie Butler Gracie Butler 5'8" | SG Upperman | 2026 State TN had 19, Bella Winningham Bella Winningham 5'7" | SG White County | 2026 State TN knocked down four 3s, and Lakelyn Grasty Lakelyn Grasty 5'8" | PG/SG White Co | 2026 State TN gave valuable minutes as well.  White County is now 29-2, and escaped with a district championship crown in a game that their best player was held in check ( Celeste Reed Celeste Reed 5'11" | C White Co. | 2024 State TN ).  The WC guard play was the difference in this one, and that’s a great sign for this club.

Butler continues her impressive play for Upperman.  Again on Saturday, Upperman beat Cumberland County in a game in which Taylor Dolente Taylor Dolente 5'10" | SG Upperman | 2026 State TN was held to only 8.  Butler led with 10, Bella Mullins Bella Mullins 5'7" | SG Upperman | 2024 State TN had 9, Sadie South had 9.  Upperman is proving they defend as well as anyone, and can win big games when Dolente has been taken away.

Butler chipped in 16 points in the win of Stone on Friday….and agin….I loved this as a sign for White.  Teams will obviously game plan to take away Ava Jones Ava Jones 6'1" | PF Hutchison | 2026 State TN , Celeste Reed Celeste Reed 5'11" | C White Co. | 2024 State TN , and Bella Winningham Bella Winningham 5'7" | SG White County | 2026 State TN ….but if Grasty and Butler can continue to knock down shots like this, White just becomes that much better.  You can’t guard everything!!

What a tremendous sign for Upperman!  Gracie Butler Gracie Butler 5'8" | SG Upperman | 2026 State TN is really coming into her own as the ’26 led the Lady Bees in scoring again.  Upperman is always in the conversation coming down the stretch, and this team seems hard wired for a deep run with the way the compete so well on both ends.  Upperman will gets stops…and ultimately they will need shot makers…and Gracie Butler Gracie Butler 5'8" | SG Upperman | 2026 State TN is a shot maker.

***There is a difference between “shot takers” and “shot makers.”***

Butler exploded for a season high 21 points, 6 rebounds 3 assists and 2 steals in a huge win over Oakland (48-35) on Tuesday night.  We all expect Dolente to provide the offensive punch, but on this night she was held to only 3.  It was promising to see her teammates step up when she’s off….and that’s what championship teams do.  They figure out ways to win even win the primary gameplan is taken away.  Teams will look to take away Dolente…who else will step up enough to win games when they do this?  Tonight, Butler more than answered the bell.

Kids:  EFFORT IS A SKILL (i.e. Gracie Butler Gracie Butler 5'8" | SG Upperman | 2026 State TN ).  Butler has turned herself into a really nice second option for this 16-2 Upperman team.  When you watch her, at this stage in her career, there is no one single skill set that is just phenomenal (I may be wrong–she sure can shoot it), but does everything well.  Everything she does, she does it with 100% effort and that gives her a slight advantage in most situations.

Just watch Butler run the floor in transition….this is often where you can separate the good from the great.  Butler sprints every step…she wins her race…she wins her battle…..and creates lots of high percentage shots in transition.  For an Upperman team that likes to press and get out and run, Butler’s style of play fits perfectly into their scheme.  Really enjoy watching this kid.

Butler finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in a very complete and well rounded game.

Another solid game from Butler, and she’s impressed this tournament along with Dolente has big time scorers.  This Upperman team was hoping to be playing later in the day on Sunday….but ultimately….this is all just practice for Feburary and March.  This Upperman group looks well round with lots of tools, and Butler is a key piece of that puzzle.