Butler Scores 47 to Give Oakwood Its 1st Title, 61-60

Mitchell Butler scored 47 points, including 14 in the final four minutes, to push Oakwood High past Hesperia Christian, 61-60, Friday night at Hesperia High and give the Gorillas their first Southern Section Small Schools Division championship.

But it was Butler’s teammate, David Fond, whose two-foot bank shot on a Jim Cossman assist gave Oakwood a 61-58 lead with 26 seconds left and provided the Gorillas (25-2) with the margin of victory.

The Patriots’ Jeff Smith hit a 16-foot jump shot with four seconds left, but Hesperia Christian failed to call a timeout and Oakwood let the clock run out.

It was, however, Butler’s night.

The 6-5 junior forward, whose 33-point and 17-rebound seasonal average carried the Gorillas time and again, finished the game with 19 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocked shots.

He made his final five shots from the field and connected on four consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter to bring Oakwood back from a 46-42 deficit with 5:35 left.

“He’s awesome,” Hesperia Christian Coach Lester Simpson said. “He’s the best Small Schools player I’ve ever seen. And he could be playing 5-A ball and doing just as well.”

Butler is attending Oakwood, a private college preparatory school in North Hollywood with an enrollment of 325, on a scholarship fund set up by former Laker Happy Hairston. Oakwood Coach Roz Goldenberg is more than happy to have him along.

“Mitchell knew he had to turn on the afterburners to win and he did,” Goldenberg said.

“I’m so happy right now, it’s unbelievable,” Butler said jubilantly. “I’m just happy we won. If I had scored two points and somebody else had scored 50 I’d be just as happy.”

Oakwood led, 30-27, at halftime by virtue of Butler’s 23 points. Hesperia Christian (22-3), however, came back on the three-point shooting of Tim Franke and Dan Loomis, who hit 4 and 3 three-point shots, respectively, to give the Patriots their biggest lead at 46-42.

Butler, however, took a pass from guard Adam Mehr with four minutes left and rammed home a dunk that tied the score, 46-46. The dunk was one of three for Butler.

“The dunks are motivation-type things,” Butler said. “They get me and the team pumped up.”

For Hesperia Christian, it was the third loss in four years in the Small Schools championship game.