Lady Chief senior rises above pressure

Taking over a team that finished 1-22 in the 2008-09 season, first year Lakeland High School head girls basketball coach Joe Vadala knew he had his work cut out for him if he wanted to turn things around. Thankfully, Ruth Butts has been helping him every step of the way.

The versatile senior has been the backbone of an inexperienced Lakeland team this year, leading the Lady Chiefs on both ends of the floor.

“Ruthie is a complete player, she can handle the ball, she can shoot, she can rebound, she plays point guard, and she can play at post,” said Vadala.

“She’s been a tremendous help (in this transition), we value her opinion, we listen to her, and the girls look up to her.”

Taking up the game in third grade, the Scott Township resident credits her parents, Bob and Terri Butts, who coached her at one time. She also said her older brother Robert and travel team coach Phil Odom, helped her develop her game.

“My brother played for Lakeland and one season at Baptist Bible College and he helped me and taught me so much,” said Butts.

“And I have to give a lot of credit to my A.U. travel coach Phil Odom. I’ve played for him for the past two or three years, he’s changed my ball handling skills and he’s pushed me further than I thought I could ever go, he’s really helped me a lot.”

With all that help and hard work, Butts created a reputation for herself as one of the premier players in Division II.

Before even entering the season, Vadala knew Butts was going to be his go to player, but as good as she is he was hoping she’d have a little help on the court from returning starters Allison Kraky and Nicole Davitt.

Unfortunately, both Kraky and Davitt’s seasons were cut short due to injury, leaving Butts as Lakeland’s lone starter with experience.

That, coupled with Lakeland School District’s refusal to let the team compete in last year’s Division II playoffs, has created a number of distractions on and off the court for Butts and her team.

The team has also had to cope with the loss of David Germano, who passed away in late January after a heart attack. He was the father of Lakeland junior Theresa Germano.

“This year we’ve gone through a lot of adversity that’s taken a toll on us, and when continual things like that are happening off the court that are a struggle, you find out who you are,” said Butts

Leading the team in scoring and ranked third in scoring in Division II averaging 15.4 points a game this season, Butts has found out she’s a person who can rise above anything. She credited her faith and her family with giving her the strength to overcome the distractions.

She also gives credit to her team, who Butts said, despite a record of 1 and 17, is showing signs of improvement every day, something she attributes to her new coach.

“It’s been rough just building with the team, but we have good friendships and that helps us. We struggle obviously with our record, but I think we’ll be more competitive during the end of the season,” said Butts.

“I’ve really been blown away by how good of a job coach Joe and (Pat) Walton have done, they’re both great coaches, couldn’t ask for better, I really respect them both.”

And, while Butts is impressed with her new coaches, she’s hoping they’re not her last. The home-schooled 18-year-old said she is hoping to continue her basketball career after high school at college next year where she is currently considering majoring in education.

AJ Sports

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