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Butke leads Comets’ reversal of fortunes

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Tyler S. Butke

DELAVAN — You would be hard-pressed to find a basketball team with a more profound turnaround this season than the Delavan-Darien boys.

The Comets lost six of their first 10 games, including a 1-4 start in the Southern Lakes Conference.

Since the slow start, which included a three-game losing streak, the Comets have been soaring. Not surprisingly, senior sharpshooter Tyler Butke is a big reason why.

Butke, who is averaging nearly 20 points a game, and the Comets have won 11 of their last 14 games heading into Friday night’s WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal game against Madison Edgewood.

What brought about the turnaround? A tried-and- true formula, according to Butke.

“I think more than anything it comes down to playing better together as a team,” Butke said. “That was something we weren’t doing early in the season.

“We’re not afraid to shoot a lot because we want the game in the 70s or 80s, but now it’s a matter of better shot selection. And getting after it on the defensive end.”

Like the rest of the team, Butke started the season slowly before going on a scoring spree the last month of the regular season. The 6-foot-5 Butke did not reach double figures in the first two conference games and was averaging 15 points per game midway through the Southern Lakes season.

He added nearly five points to his scoring average by unloading on conference opponents Lake Geneva Badger and Union Grove in back-to-back games two weeks ago. Butke had 33 points against Badger, and followed that up with a conference season-high 36 points against Union Grove.

Delavan-Darien coach Bob Beighton said Butke’s stock has risen for several reasons.

“Tyler elevates so well on his jump shot, and because he releases the ball well above his head, he’s going to get his shot off every time no matter whether there’s a hand in his face or not,” Beighton said. “But that’s something that he has really, really worked at, too.”

Butke spent the summer shooting over 500 jump shots a day while also working on his conditioning.

“When he can catch the ball in space with an opportunity to shoot, he’s very effective,” Beighton said of Butke.

“Plus, he’s an outstanding rebounder.”

Butke has eight double-doubles this season (10 or more points, 10 or more rebounds), and comes into the Edgewood game averaging 19.5 points per game and 7.7 rebounds. He scored all 14 points for the Comets in the fourth quarter of the 54-49 regional final win over Union Grove.

“It wasn’t like anything was designed for me,” Butke said of his fourth-quarter heroics. “Coach just felt like I had the most favorable match-up, and my teammates recognized that. But we have a lot of guys that can present a match-up problem.”

Butke, who would like to play college basketball and has narrowed his choices to Carthage, Concordia or Beloit, said a trip to the Kohl Center and the state tournament is within reach.

Delavan-Darien will face a Madison Edgewood team that has also had an up-and-down season. The Crusaders are 16-9 overall and have won their last two playoff games by a combined five points.

“We want it to be an up-tempo game, and they want to work the clock on every possession,” Butke said. “It’s going to be important to get off to a good start, and hopefully, play with the lead.

“After setting the bar high before the season, we didn’t start out the season very well. Now, we have a chance to finish with a trip to state. That would be awesome.”