In the hallway behind the Butler gymnasium, high on the wall of coach Myron Lowery’s office rest the basketballs, brackets, plaques and trophies from the conference and tournament championships (and other awards) that his Bulldog teams have won in the last three years.
Each object on the shelf represents a special accomplishment and memory for Lowery and his Butler team since he took over the program in 2014.
But, there is one spot on the middle of the self that remains empty.
Coach Lowery and his team all knows that empty spot is reserved for the one trophy that has eluded them: a 4A state championship (trophy).
“We’ve got so many basketball and trophies on that wall that we are proud of, but the one we want most isn’t there yet,” Butler senior point guard, Omega Stitt said. “This team wants to bring home that championship more than anything. We know coach Lowery wants it (state championship) just as bad as we do. We all want to make our legacy live on here, and help put Butler basketball on the (state championship) map.”
This year’s Butler basketball team, No. 1 in the state and No. 1 in the Charlotte Observer for the first time ever (at same time), has had that championship focus at 21-0 overall, including 9-0 in Southwestern 4A (SW4A) conference play.
But Lowery and company know there’s a long way to go in their 2016-17 campaign.
Each of the past two seasons, Butler has felt good about its chances going into the playoffs.
In 2014-15, the Bulldogs (23-4 overall) lost in third round to Myers Park in overtime, 67-66, on a last second shot.
Last year, Butler (24-6 overall) ran into perennial power, North Mecklenburg in the 4A state quarterfinals and lost 78-66.
This season, they hope to finish their season with a win, but know there is still a lot of work to do.
“This team understands what it takes to win, and there’s no question our ultimate goal is to win a (state) championship,” Lowery said. “But we have to stay in the moment. So, our only goal is to win the next game, and that’s all we concentrate on. …
“At this point in the season, you have to prove yourself in every game. In the playoffs, you’ve got to have the combination of a little bit of luck and making some great plays in the clutch against great teams. We know we are going to get everyone’s best shot, so we have to be at our best (too).”
Winning is nothing new for this Butler team as the core of this squad has been a part of 66 wins in the last three seasons, with only 10 losses in the same span.
Each of Lowery’s three seasons at Butler, the Bulldogs have a prolonged winning streak, winning 17 in a row his first season (2014-15); 11 in a row last year and 19 straight to begin this year.
Butler’s winning has also carried over into their summer play at camps and tournaments, where they are a combined 94-10 in Lowery’s tenure, including a 42-1 mark in the summer of 2016.
That means the Bulldogs are 61-1 overall including this past summer, with their only loss coming to Cox Mill (this summer).
“Winning definitely breeds an attitude, a since of ownership and even higher expectations with the entire program from the varsity to the junior varsity to the new guys coming in each year,” Lowery said. “But, all of that success doesn’t just come to you – it involves a huge amount work from the coaching staff and the players year round — from skill work in the gym, to the conditioning, to the weight room.”
While the current Butler team hasn’t experience a lot of losing, coach Lowery has been through his share of ups and downs in his 27-year career as a basketball and admits “he appreciates every single win.”
Not long ago, in Lowery’s last three seasons at Providence High (2010-2013), he went a combined 9-66, including a 1-24 season in 2012-13 campaign, his final season with the Panthers.
Lowery says he hit rock bottom as a coach that season.
But Lowery rediscovered his passion for the game the following season at Olympic as an assistant to former Trojans’ head coach Ty Baumgardner.
Lowery (340-288 in his coaching career) says the tough times have only made him a stronger coach.
“I believe the struggles have helped me become a good coach,” Lowery said. “I’ve learned a lot from the tough times. All of those experiences have made me appreciate every single win.”
After one season as an Olympic assistant, Lowery took the Butler job in 2014, and knew he was in right place from the start.
Former Butler basketball coach (2004-2011) and longtime rival, Kurt Wessler, was one of the first people to call him upon hearing the Bulldogs’ coaching job was open.
“Myron and I have a long history coaching against each other from when I was at Vance and he was at Harding (1996-2003),” said Wessler, who is now the Crestdale Middle School basketball coach, Butler softball coach and a teacher at Butler. “One thing I’ve always noticed about his teams is that he gets his players to play above their levels. Every time I’ve faced Myron’s team, whether they had superior talent, average talent or below-average talent, he gets them to play better than their level, and that’s what coaching is all about. …
“I knew from the start with Myron (Lowery) at Butler, the equation was going to work.”
The winning formula at Butler this year has again been about a team focus and balance, as six players have led the Bulldogs in scoring. Meanwhile, seven players average between six and 17 points per game, for a team that scores 73 points per contest.
The Butler defense has also been stout as they allow only 53 points per game.
On any given night, any of the Butler players in the regular rotation could lead the way.
This season, several, Bulldogs have had defining moments, especially from the senior class.
Butler’s leading scorer, 6-foot-4 senior, Zane Rankin, is averaging nearly 17 points per game, doubling his average from a year ago.
Rankin already has eight games of 20 points or more, including two 30-plus efforts.
Meanwhile, Butler senior point guard, Tarique Stowe, has also had a career year (8.5 ppg, 4.8 apg) after struggling to get consistent playing time in his first three seasons.
“I was really tough on Tarique in our end of the year meetings after last year,” Lowery said. I remember telling him ‘I have a brand new red car (comparing that to the Butler) and I’m not ready to give the keys to that car. You are going to have to prove yourself.’ …
“He worked hard all offseason and at our first practice, we met on the track and I told him to hold out his hands and I handed him the keys.
