Butler dominates inside for 61-49 win at Seneca Valley

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By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor

JACKSON TWP - Butler ran into a Section 3 opponent that had sizable post players to match its own Tuesday night.
It didn't matter.
Golden Tornado forwards Nate Hartung and Jade Burka scored career-highs of 20 and 14 points, respectively, in a 61-49 boys basketball win at Seneca Valley.
Butler (8-4, 3-2) never trailed and led by as many as 22 - 56-34 - with 5:20 remaining before emptying its bench.
"We made a pretty good run against their second teamers, but we needed that spurt early in the third quarter," Seneca Valley coach Victor Giannotta said. "That's where we lost the game."
The Raiders (2-11, 0-5) trailed 28-19 at halftime, but Butler used its strength inside to hike that lead to 19 points before the end of the third period.
"We play better when we're facing big guys inside," Hartung said. "Our guards are so good. They know how to get the ball in there."
Besides his 20 points, Hartung recorded a career-high 13 rebounds and added five assists. Burka missed much of the second half because of foul trouble and fouled out with 3:50 remaining.
Still, he contributed five boards to the Tornado cause.
"I thought Nate and Jade played off each other really well tonight," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "One would get the ball down low, their defense would react and he'd get the ball to the other one."
Dave Monteleone, a 6-foot-5 junior center, had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Raiders. Don Barclay, a 6-4 sophomore, added eight points and seven boards.
But neither could stop Butler's inside scoring, which produced 15 layups among the Tornado's 22 field goals.
"We tried to front them, but Butler executes its inside-out game so well," Giannotta said. "They are a well-coached team. Those guys get the most out of the talent they have."
Hartung was surprised he scored as many points as he did.
"I didn't even realize it," he said. "I thought Jade played his best game. I was just out there playing, trying to get the section win."
The win was Butler's fourth in a row overall. Blake Anderson had five assists and Jerrod Markle contributed eight points, including a pair of treys in the second quarter.
"Along with the scoring, our guys played good defense inside," Lewandowski. "They forced a lot of altered shots."
Seneca Valley failed to score more than 50 points for the 10th time in 13 games this season.
The Raiders sank just 21 of 59 shots from the floor in dropping their third straight game.
"That's a lot of shots for us," Giannotta said. "Normally, we're turning the ball over too many times."
Seneca Valley had just 12 turnovers Tuesday compared to Butler's 17. Many of the Tornado miscues came in the final four minutes.
Dan Stanley added 11 points off the bench for the Raiders.
"We need to score at least 55 points to have a chance in these games," Giannotta said. "You can draw up all of the Xs, Os, double screens, triple screens you want. You need a go-to guy at crunch time, and we don't have one.
"It's the same as fifth-grade basketball - with 12 seconds left, give the ball to Joey and get out of the way. At any level of basketball, you need that guy."
BUTLER 61
Nate Hartung 8-13 4-6 20, Noah Hartung 2-5 3-5 7, Jerrod Markle 3-7 0-0 8, Adam Monday 1-2 0-0 3, Blake Anderson 1-4 0-0 2, Sean Lowry 1-2 0-0 3, Jade Burka 5-5 4-4 14, Nick Martini 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Anthony 0-0 0-0 0, Alan Jackson 0-0 1-2 1, Corey Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Celestin 0-0 0-2 0, Herb Klann 1-1 0-0 3, Matt Shockey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 2239 12-19 61
SENECA VALLEY 49
Kevin Mayberry 2-3 0-0 4, Pat Heery 2-6 1-2 5, Jim Sandherr 1-1 0-0 2, Dan Stanley 5-9 0-0 11, Jason Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Steinbrink 2-6 0-0 4, Gabe Grinder 0-4 1-2 1, Dave Monteleone 5-16 4-6 14, Sean Eagle 0-2 0-0 0, Don Barclay 4-12 0-2 8. Totals: 21-59 6-12 49
3-point goals:
Markle 2, Monday, Lowry, Klann; Staney
JV:
Seneca Valley, 48-35 (B-Martini 12, SV-Stanley 14)
Friday:
North Hills @ Butler, New Castle @ Seneca Valley