Vaux tops Comm Tech in playoffs
Just because James Butler no longer serves as the captain for Roberts Vaux' basketball team, don't expect him to go the milquetoast route.
Just because James Butler no longer serves as the captain for Roberts Vaux' basketball team, don't expect him to go the milquetoast route.
Well before the visiting Cougars Monday met Communications Tech in a Public League round-of-16 playoff (also a Class AA semifinal), there they were in their downstairs locker room and there Butler was, chirping.
"Four of us wound up talking," he said. "I went first, followed by Jaleel Williams, Rysheed Jordan and Jahson Carrington. Coach [Jamie] Ross was upstairs.
"I felt things needed to be said. I was saying how I've been on Vaux teams that always lost to Comm Tech, even by [42] one time. And by [10] earlier this season. I said we had to play hard from the start. We had to get that feeling in our heads: Be ready!!
"If I don't talk, and the other guys don't follow me up, who knows, maybe we go into the game sloppy."
Not a chance. With Butler contributing 21 points, six rebounds and two apiece of assists/steals, Vaux seized this one by the neck, 68-45.
Even better, he followed his own advice, posting nine points in a 24-8 first quarter.
"The only thing in my mind was going all out on defense," Butler said. "Points? Not thinking about them at all. We hit them with man-to-man and 3-2 and 2-3 zones. We didn't let them get set going against one defense.
"When they told me I had 21 points, I told them, 'No way!' It didn't feel like it. At the most, I thought I had 15-16 . . . Well, I did forget about the foul shots."
Butler's captaincy did not even make it into the season. He was stripped of the honor after home issues forced him to miss some practices and show up late for others.
"I was really mad about letting that happen," he said. "I was looking forward to that since I've been on this team longer than pretty much anyone. I apologized to my teammates and I've been trying my best to help us ever since."
Jordan, a high-quality soph, added 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Williams shot 7-for-10 at the line while totaling 15 points. Rich "Eggy" Hoskins (15) was CT's only double-figure scorer; he also logged three assists and four steals.
Butler, who lives near 24th and Master, within footsteps of Vaux, a fifth-year Pub member and former middle school, hopes to pursue chemistry in college. Hey, do any schools offer minors in inspirational speaking?
"I'll be talking before the next one, too," he said, laughing. "It's that point of the season. We need to win every game."
