LEXINGTON — Two-man teams rarely make noise in the state basketball tournament, and Evangel Christian showed Thursday it’s far from being one.

Senior guards Kyran Tilley and Christian Doerr get the majority of publicity as Evangel’s top scorers, but senior Isaiah Chitapa and freshman Davier White showed their value as the Eagles knocked off Butler County, 71-60, in the first round of the UK Healthcare Sweet 16 in front of 11,061 fans at Rupp Arena.

A 6-foot-3 forward, Chitapa has the role as Evangel’s top defender and slowed high-scoring Butler County guard Ty Price. He entered the game averaging 29.6 points but was held to 12 on Thursday while hitting 5 of 20 shots, including 0 of 10 from 3-point range.

Chitapa pitched in 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

“I’ve never been the offensive guy,” he said. “For me to earn my spot on the team I have to play defense. I lock in on defense, and that’s my way of getting on the floor.”

Evangel coach Larry Miller said he’s leaned on Chitapa’s prowess on defense all season.

“Any time all year we’ve played a great player he’s been able to shut him down,” Miller said. “That was a big key for us tonight. He has a lot of guts and a lot of heart.”

A 6-4 guard/forward, White showed why he’s heralded as one of the state’s top freshmen. He hit 4 of 5 3-point tries and finished with 18 points.

“He has everything he needs — size, skill,” Doerr said. “He’s only a freshman, and not a lot of freshmen are right here. I just love him, and I’m just glad he’s on the team.”

Doerr (21 points, five assists) and Tilley (nine points) had their typical solid games as No. 9-ranked Evangel won its first Sweet 16 contest. The Eagles (30-6) will face No. 6 Trinity (27-7) in Friday’s 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal.

The Eagles shot 50% (27 of 54) and converted Butler County’s 16 turnovers into 17 points.

Miller called it a “physical, grind-it-out game.”

“I thought it would be an 88-85 game,” Miller said. “Of course, both teams playing up here for the first time probably is a factor in it.”

Justin Castlen’s 3-pointer pulled Butler County (23-9) within 42-41 with 2:17 left in the third quarter, but Evangel regained control with seven straight points — a Ben Mukadi basket, a White 3-pointer and a Tilley dunk — for a 49-41 edge at the 1:19 mark.

Butler County never got closer than four points the rest of the way. Lawson Rice led the Bears with 19 points.

“We did not come here for moral victories or just to say we were glad to be here,” Butler County coach Calvin Dockery said. “But we did learn some things. If we get the opportunity to come back, we’ll embrace it.”

EVANGEL        18      17      16     20 – 71

BUTLER CO.    15      11      17     17 – 60

Evangel Christian (30-6) – Isaiah Chitapa 10, Davier White 18, Ben Mukadi 8, Christian Doerr 21, Kyran Tilley 9, Johnny Djema 1, Brayden Trice 4.

Butler County (23-9) – Trever Deweese 9, Lawson Rice 19, Justin Castlen 16, Briar Griffin 4, Ty Price 12.

KHSAA Boys Sweet 16: Check out Thursday's other action at Rupp Arena

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA Sweet 16: Evangel Christian defeats Butler County in first round