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Lady Bee Bees win state title
By Byron Painter
Editor
Williamsville seventh grade girls basketball coach Jess Buttry thought his team had a chance to win
the state title coming into the season.
Those players proved Buttry correct Thursday night, with an easy 39-16 win over Marshall in the Illinois
Elementary School Association Class 7AAA state title game at Assumption Central A&M Middle School.
After watching some of the girls play at the sixth grade level and also after an undefeated run at an all-
star camp in Riverton, Buttry admitted winning it all crossed his mind, especially considering Rochester
would be in the 7AAAA bracket.
“I honestly thought we had a chance, but we still had to go out and do it,” said Buttry.
And do it they did, racing to a 14-3 lead after one period and leading by double digits almost the rest of
the game.
And it could have been an even bigger lead, lamented Buttry, who noted his team missed a lot of easy
shots.
The Williamsville press claimed another victim, as the Lady Cubs turned the ball over eight times in the
first period and 22 times overall.
“I thought we were quicker than they were,” said Buttry, acknowledging the Saturday opponents
(Bismarck-Henning and Litchfield) might have had a quickness edge. “Their press did not do anything to
us, but we got a lot of points off our press.
“Our press really got us going in the first quarter,” he added.
Marshall scored the opening point, then Williamsville (25-2, with both losses to undefeated Rochester,
which won the 7AAAA title Thursday night as well) rattled off 10 points in a row over 1:52 stretch.
Emily Capranica scored on a putback, then Brandi Donnelly scored after a Jordan French steal and
assist.
Clair Stoecker scored after a Marshall turnover, and Donnelly scored on a putback.
Capranica ended the 10-0 spurt with another bucket.
Marshall scored 10 seconds into the second period to get within 14-5, then the Lady Bee Bees scored
six points in succession, with buckets from Capranica and French and two free throws from Donnelly after
a nice setup from Stoecker.
Williamsville led 23-9 at intermission, then put up the first half-dozen points of the third quarter.
The Lady Bee Bees led 33-12 after three periods and then calmly milked the clock away in the fourth
quarter, making numerous passes on each possession.
French finished with 12 points, followed by Donnelly’s 11 and Capranica’s 10. Stoecker added four and
Caleigh Franklin chipped in a bucket.
Despite the raucous crowd and the importance of a state title game, Buttry was impressed with his
team’s calmness and confidence on the trip to Assumption.
“We did not play scared, and even when we made mistakes, we still got back on defense,” he said.
The title was the first-ever for Williamsville Junior High girls basketball.
By Byron Painter
Editor
Williamsville seventh grade girls basketball coach Jess Buttry thought his team had a chance to win
the state title coming into the season.
Those players proved Buttry correct Thursday night, with an easy 39-16 win over Marshall in the Illinois
Elementary School Association Class 7AAA state title game at Assumption Central A&M Middle School.
After watching some of the girls play at the sixth grade level and also after an undefeated run at an all-
star camp in Riverton, Buttry admitted winning it all crossed his mind, especially considering Rochester
would be in the 7AAAA bracket.
“I honestly thought we had a chance, but we still had to go out and do it,” said Buttry.
And do it they did, racing to a 14-3 lead after one period and leading by double digits almost the rest of
the game.
And it could have been an even bigger lead, lamented Buttry, who noted his team missed a lot of easy
shots.
The Williamsville press claimed another victim, as the Lady Cubs turned the ball over eight times in the
first period and 22 times overall.
“I thought we were quicker than they were,” said Buttry, acknowledging the Saturday opponents
(Bismarck-Henning and Litchfield) might have had a quickness edge. “Their press did not do anything to
us, but we got a lot of points off our press.
“Our press really got us going in the first quarter,” he added.
Marshall scored the opening point, then Williamsville (25-2, with both losses to undefeated Rochester,
which won the 7AAAA title Thursday night as well) rattled off 10 points in a row over 1:52 stretch.
Emily Capranica scored on a putback, then Brandi Donnelly scored after a Jordan French steal and
assist.
Clair Stoecker scored after a Marshall turnover, and Donnelly scored on a putback.
Capranica ended the 10-0 spurt with another bucket.
Marshall scored 10 seconds into the second period to get within 14-5, then the Lady Bee Bees scored
six points in succession, with buckets from Capranica and French and two free throws from Donnelly after
a nice setup from Stoecker.
Williamsville led 23-9 at intermission, then put up the first half-dozen points of the third quarter.
The Lady Bee Bees led 33-12 after three periods and then calmly milked the clock away in the fourth
quarter, making numerous passes on each possession.
French finished with 12 points, followed by Donnelly’s 11 and Capranica’s 10. Stoecker added four and
Caleigh Franklin chipped in a bucket.
Despite the raucous crowd and the importance of a state title game, Buttry was impressed with his
team’s calmness and confidence on the trip to Assumption.
“We did not play scared, and even when we made mistakes, we still got back on defense,” he said.
The title was the first-ever for Williamsville Junior High girls basketball.
Issue Date: Dec. 18, 2008