Caldwell Roars Past Trigg 84-31 in Return to Butler Gym

Butler Gym in Princeton saw its first high school basketball contest on Dec. 8, 1959. Over 65 years later, Caldwell County’s old gym still has plenty of charm.

The Tigers got 21 points and 12 rebounds from Jaydarius Wilson Friday night while dismissing longtime rival Trigg County 84-31 as part of a “throwback” homecoming night doubleheader at the downtown gym.

Caldwell, now 14-8, never trailed after scoring the game’s first six points on 3-pointers by Cade Rowland.

Trigg (8-13) tied things at 6-6 when Lance Breckel knocked down a pair of 3s of his own.

But the Tigers scored the next eight points and went on to lead 23-10 after one quarter.

By halftime, Caldwell led 40-17 after holding Trigg to just 6 of 22 shooting from the floor in the first half. The Tigers, meanwhile, were 17 of 40 from the field and forced 17 Trigg turnovers.

Caldwell continued to extend the lead after the break, reaching the running-clock mercy rule on a Wilson layup with 2:37 left in the third period. That made it a 35-point game at 62-27.

Caldwell had 22 steals while creating 30 Trigg miscues in the contest. The Tigers outscored the Wildcats 34-4 on points off turnovers. Caldwell gave the ball away just six times.

Collin Whittington added 14 points and five steals for Caldwell. Daelyn Lander added 13 points.

For Trigg, Davaree Gude had nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Slaton Carter added seven points.

Caldwell is now off until a key 7th District matchup against Madisonville-North Hopkins next Friday at the CAB gym. The winner of that game will have the No. 1 seed for the district tournament.

Trigg gets right back to action on Saturday with a trip to Christian Fellowship School in Marshall County.

Caldwell has won its last three matchups with the Wildcats. Going back to consolidation at Caldwell in 1954, the Tigers hold a 78-65 advantage in the all-time series.

Friday’s 53-point margin of victory was the largest in the series since Caldwell won 97-43 at Trigg on Dec. 10, 1991. The Tigers led that game 32-0 after one quarter and scored the first 33 points of the contest.

Trigg head coach Michael Fraliex was on the other side of the rout just over 33 years ago. He had 22 points for Caldwell in the Tigers’ win.

As for Caldwell’s first game at Butler Gym, Madisonville was the opponent that night, with the Maroons picking up a 75-29 victory.

The Tigers — and later the Lady Tigers — called Butler Gym home through the 1987-88 campaign — 29 seasons.

Meanwhile, the first contest at the Community Activities Building was on Dec. 5, 1988 — a girls’ 63-37 loss to Calloway County. This is now the 37th season for Caldwell to play its home games at the CAB gym.

However, the school typically picks one night each season to return to the Butler.