Butler boys stun USC

---

By Mike Kilroy
Eagle Staff Writer

UPPER ST. CLAIR — Sean Lowry was dominant for Butler, but it was a player who took only one shot and another who didn't play one minute that gave the Golden Tornado their biggest spark.
With the Butler and Upper St. Clair boys basketball teams locked in a 38-all tie with two seconds left in the game, Golden Tornado coach Joe Lewandowski set up a play to go to Lowry for the final shot.
Before the team hit the floor, junior guard AustinSnodgrass offered an insight.
"He told Aaron (Dorondo) that they might jump the screen (set for Lowry), and if they do, he could slip the screen and get open," Lewandowski said. "It was an incredible call."
And that is exactly what happened.
Upper St. Clair jumped the screen and Dorondo, remembering what Snodgrass, who didn't see the floor all night, had told him, cut for the basket and made a reverse layup at the buzzer to give Butler a dramatic 40-38 win over the Upper St. Clair Tip-Off Classic host.
It was Dorondo's only shot attempt of the game.
"You have to be ready to make the most of your opportunities," Dorondo said.
So did Butler, which squandered an eight-point lead in the second half but recovered in time to get the final shot.
It was a monumental loss for Upper St.Clair.
"They had won 48 straight non-section games on this floor," Lewandowski said. "This is only their second loss on this floor in six years."
Butler did it with a whole lot of Lowry.
The senior, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was 9-of-10 from the field, poured in 20 points and played just about every position on the floor.
The 6-foot-5 Lowry also played some point guard.
"He's just been waiting his turn," Lewandowski said. "People don't believe me when I say this, but if we would have had him last year, we may have won the whole thing."
Butler took a 28-20 lead early in the third quarter, but suffered from some painfully cold shooting, as the Tornado went eight minutes between baskets.
In that time, Upper St. Clair went on a 14-0 run to take a 34-28 lead.
Butler, however, was unfazed — something Lewandowski attributes to many of his players being under fire last season and in practice early this season.
Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer attributed some of the loss to the football team.
The Panthers are still alive in the football playoffs and his team was missing some players, he said.
"We were missing three of our top six players," Holzer said.
Still, the coach gave Butler a heaping helping of credit.
"They are a very good team," he said.
Butler certainly hopes so. It entered the season with a slew of question marks.
The Tornado may have answered a few of them already.
"Even the guys on the bench, they aren't just sitting around, they are paying attention," Lewandowski said. "That's what our team is all about. Austin wants to be a coach. He understands the game. All these guys take joy in everyone's success."

BUTLER 40
Mike Pratkanis 2-7 0-0 4, AaronDorondo 1-1 0-0 2, Cody Fleeger 1-7 0-0 2, Nick Rossmiller 2-3 0-0 4, Jace Lumley 0-1 0-0 0, Jereme Buffington 0-2 0-2 0, Brian DeAngelis 0-2 0-2 0, Sean Lowry 9-10 1-3 20, Christos Klutinoty 3-11 0-0 8. Totals: 18-44 1-5 40.
UPPER ST. CLAIR 38
Mike Crater 0-3 0-1 0, Christian Shea 3-7 0-0 7, Dave Miller 3-12 3-4 11, Adam Anderson 1-3 4-4 7, Nick Shea 5-5 0-3 10, Dan Simpson 0-1 1-2 1, Jon Austin 0-2 0-0 0, Pete Serio 0-1 0-0 0, Brett McCormik 0-1 2-2 2. Totals: 12-35 11-18 38.
Butler 13 6 9 12—40
Upper St. Clair 9 8 12 9—38
3-point goals: Klutinoty 2, Lowry, C. Shea, Miller 2, Anderson