BELLEVILLE - Senior guard Miccah Butlerhit for 20 points, including a three in the dying seconds, as Edwardsville pulled out a close 44-41 win over Belleville West in a Southwestern Conference game Friday night at the Maroons' gym.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
The win improved the Tigers' record to 15-7, including 5-3 in the SWC. This week on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, Edwardsville hosts Staunton. On Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, the Tigers travel to Alton to meet the rival Redbirds.
On Feb. 10, 2026, Edwardsville hosts Collinsville.
Edwardsville coach Dustin Battas was indeed a happy man after the Belleville West victory.
"It was a hard-fought Southwestern Conference game," Battas said. "I am proud of the effort from our guys and their intensity. We grabbed a lot of loose balls and fought hard to rebound. Our defense was much better tonight. I thought Devyon (Hill-Lomax) had one of his better all-around games.
"Miccah made a big three late to give us the lead, and then sealed it at the free-throw line. Rowan (Weller) did an excellent job of handling the ball. We got some good contributions from the other guys as well."
It was a typical Southwestern Conference game against a quality opponent in West, and Battas was thrilled with the outcome.
"Every game in our league is tough," Battas said, "especially on the road. Overall, it was one of our better wins of the season, because we think Belleville West is really good."
The fourth quarter was a see-saw affair, with the Maroons rallying from a 12-point deficit to take the lead in the third quarter, and in the fourth, went ahead late before Butler hit his three, and later a free throw, to cinch the game for Edwardsville
Butler led the Tigers with 20 points, while Hill-Lomax scored eight points, Weller had six points, and Matthew Wilson scored five points. J'Dyn Lloyd led the Maroons with 17 points, while Micah May had nine points, Amauri Fenton hit for six points, T.J. Cason IV had five points, and both Issac Jones and Rickey Salmond III had two points each.
Belleville West goes to 13-8, and starts a four-game road trip Monday night at Granite City, is at Mascoutah on Tuesday night, and goes to Belleville East next Friday, with all games starting at 7:30 p.m. The road stretch ends on Feb. 7 at Springfield Southeast in a 4 p.m. start.
