No. 3 North Oldham Survives Butler Scare, Advances to State Semifinals

Mustangs hold off late rally from No. 7 Louisville Butler to reach state tournament's final four

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:00am

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North Oldham High School's boys basketball team survived a scare from Louisville Butler, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat the No. 7 Bears 62-56 and advance to the semifinals of the Kentucky state tournament. Social media star Pierre Rondo led the way for the No. 3 Mustangs with 14 points and 5 assists, while Tommy Gregg scored a team-high 19 points. Butler made a furious 20-6 run in the third quarter to take the lead, but North Oldham shot 83% in the final frame to regain control and secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps North Oldham's state championship hopes alive as they continue their quest to capture the school's first-ever state title. The Mustangs, led by their talented young star Rondo, have emerged as one of the top teams in Kentucky this season. Meanwhile, the loss ends Butler's season after the Bears put up a valiant effort against the higher-ranked opponent.

The details

North Oldham jumped out to a 26-10 lead in the first 13 minutes, but Butler fought back with an 11-4 run to close the first half. The Bears then used a full-court press to force turnovers and go on a 20-6 run in the third quarter, taking a lead. However, North Oldham adjusted, getting Rondo open looks to spark a 5-6 shooting performance in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. Gregg, Oakland Shearer, and Henry Howard all made key plays down the stretch for the Mustangs.

  • North Oldham jumped out to a 26-10 lead in the first 13 minutes.
  • Butler closed the first half on an 11-4 run.
  • Butler went on a 20-6 run in the third quarter to take the lead.
  • North Oldham shot 83% from the field in the fourth quarter to regain control.

The players

Pierre Rondo

An eighth-grade social media sensation who scored 14 points and dished out 5 assists for North Oldham.

Tommy Gregg

The leading scorer for North Oldham with 19 points, including a key basket in the fourth quarter.

Oakland Shearer

Scored 8 points in the third quarter to keep North Oldham in the game during Butler's run.

Henry Howard

Hit two big 3-pointers in the second half to help North Oldham maintain its lead.

Adrian Wilder

Scored 12 points for Butler in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like we did a really good job, particularly in the second half, speeding the game up, getting steals, getting deflections.”

— Kevin Geary, Butler Head Coach

“Whenever we sped them up, that's when we took the lead.”

— Adrian Wilder, Butler Player

“He [Rondo] doesn't play like a normal eighth-grader. He has elite vision. He understands the game. He understands where help is coming from, where to get the ball to.”

— Kevin Geary, Butler Head Coach

“You always got to be ready in a tournament like this. Henry's a great shooter and was ready when his number was called.”

— David Levitch, North Oldham Head Coach

“On any given night, my teammates and coaches will trust me to make those plays. Wasn't really a game plan, but just came out look to score and make plays.”

— Tommy Gregg, North Oldham Player

What’s next

North Oldham (26-5) will face the winner of George Rogers Clark and Marshall County in the semifinals at Rupp Arena on Saturday (1:30 p.m. EST).

The takeaway

This thrilling state tournament matchup showcased the talent and competitiveness of both North Oldham and Butler, with the Mustangs ultimately prevailing thanks to their ability to make key adjustments and hit clutch shots down the stretch. North Oldham's young star Rondo continues to impress, while the smaller but scrappy Butler squad proved they can hang with the state's elite teams.