Prep girls’ basketball: Del Oro holds off feisty rally behind Butcher’s key work
Led by the Butcher, the Del Oro high school girls’ basketball team was able finish its season strong in clutch fashion Wednesday.
What looked to be a blowout early turned into a competitive game decided in its final moments. Del Oro earned much-needed 57-52 win over Rocklin at home Wednesday night.
The Golden Eagles were in charge the entire game. They scored first and forced the Thunder to play catch-up. At one point, they held a lead of 14 points and the game looked to be over. However, the Thunder fought back and cut the deficit to just two points midway through the final quarter. But Del Oro was just too hungry for a win.
“I think they played with a lot of heart,” said assistant coach Taylor Cirksena. “We’re coming off three tough losses. It’s not something we’re used to, but our girls dug deep. They played for each other, they played for our seniors tonight and made it a little more exciting than I had hoped. But that’s our style so I’m proud of them.”
When it came to excitement and style, no player on the court provided more of either than Del Oro senior guard Madison Butcher.
The Sacramento State commit always looked one step ahead of her opponents. Whether it was a crafty pass, a strong bucket, or even drawing a hard charge. She was effective in every aspect of the game. She isn’t afraid to flex on her opponents and show a little emotion after making a play either.
Butcher’s basketball IQ is through the roof. Much like that of the professionals she mirrors her game after.
“In the WNBA I like watching Sabrina Ionescu,” Butcher said. “I feel like I have kind of a similar build to her and I think my game looks a lot like hers. So I just try to take in the details of how she plays. In the NBA, I feel like it’s Luka Dončić. He’s not very fast and I’m not the fastest player so I like how he’s effective with his moves.”
Butcher, who leads the Golden Eagles in points, assists, and steals looks to have a very high ceiling. With an opportunity to play at the next level, she will have the chance to really show what she can do with the school of her choice.
“As the recruiting went on and after meeting the coaches, I really found myself a home at Sac State,” Butcher said. “I just love the players and love the coach and what he’s going to do with the program there.”
With this being Del Oro’s last home game of the season, there was a lot of emotion on the court and in the stands. Coach Cirksena, a Del Oro Alumni, conveyed how the team’s seniors felt going into the game.
“They’ve worked for years and years to get to this moment,” said Cirksena. “I was here in 2014 and I remember my senior night vividly. I just told them to cherish it and play for each other. This school is something special, this basketball program is something special, and this is such a great group of girls. We just cherished the moment.”
With just one game left in the regular season, Butcher and the rest of the Golden Eagles hope for a high seed in the playoffs, which start next week.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 7:49 AM.