The North Butler boys basketball team is 3-3 overall and 3-3 in the Top of Iowa Conference East at the holiday break. Four of the Bearcats six games in 2025 were decided by five points or less, they went 1-3 in such games. Head Coach Austin Guerrero notes the difference makers in a tightly contested game.
“One thing that our guys are showing each and every night is a willingness to compete and putting their best effort forward every single night. Our Top of Iowa East Conference is kind of jam packed. It’s really going to come down to each and every night, who values the ball and who gets the best shot every time down the floor,” says Guerrero. “We’ve done that at times and those are the games we’ve pulled out. Then at this point a few games that we maybe didn’t get the best shot opportunity or there was a few to many turnovers down the stretch, that leads us to being 3-3 at the break.”
In the post, Jarrett Shear leads the team with 17.5 points per game at 57.9 percent shooting from the field (second highest in the conference). Wrigley Endelman adds 12.5 points (second on the team) and a team best six rebounds per game. The Bearcat guards have provided a boost on both ends of the floor with 62 assists and 46 steals. Guerrero highlights the Bearcats post play and an impact player at the guard position.
“Jarrett Shear does a good job demanding a double team anytime he catches the ball on the block. Wrigley Endelman’s doing a nice job as well. He’s just a kid that does whatever you need from him and always takes the best shot on the floor,” says Guerrero. “Our guards are just a good group, you never know who’s gonna step up each and every night. Jax Thorne has done a tremendous job on the defensive side of the floor, containing the other team’s usual best score. He takes that upon himself to just lead by example and put his best foot forward. He has helped our other guards all the way around. We’re just playing well as a team. I think that’s our greatest asset, is we’re all capable of doing big things.”
Adding to the team’s production depth, Brody Wangsness is averaging 6.5 points per game (third most on the team) and shoots a team best 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. Wade Wangsness leads the team with 3.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
North Butler will return to action by hosting Hampton-Dumont-CAL on Monday, January 5.
