BASKETBALL: Bearcat girls and boys both fall in OT

Down by 10 points at halftime, North Butler rallied in the fourth quarter and caught Newman Catholic when Jennifer Rottler hit a 3-point basket at the buzzer to tie the game at 55 and force overtime in girls basketball action Friday night.

The Lady Bearcats led momentarily in the added period, but faltered at the free-throw allowing Newman Catholic to win, 62-61.

“We didn’t play well for three quarters,” North Butler coach Kevin Clipperton said of his team, which outscored Newman Catholic 20-11 in the fourth.

“That’s when we finally showed what we’re capable of and started coming up with some defensive stops,” Clipperton said. “We just ended up missing some free throws in overtime while they made theirs.”

Nicole Heeren led North Butler with 19 points. Rottler had 13 for the Lady Bearcats, who fell to 5-7 overall and 5-5 in the Top of Iowa-East Conference. They will host Central Springs, tonight.

The Bearcat boys team also lost in overtime to Newman Catholic on Friday after coming from behind to tie the game at 55 at the end of regulation.

Newman Catholic outscored North Butler 10-4 in the added period to win 65-59.

Hunter Fettkether’s 18 points led Newman Catholic, which improved to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in the Top of Iowa-East Conference.

North Butler fell to 7-3 and 7-2 and will also host Central Springs tonight.