Butler's
streak-ending win over NC benefits Seneca
By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
NEW CASTLE Stop the streaks.
That might as well have been the rallying cry for the
The Golden Tornado's 37-33 victory at
Red Hurricanes coach John Sarandrea suffered his first losing season in 20
years.
The one streak the Tornado (12-12, 4-8) wanted to end was out of their hands.
"I know how (New Castle standout) Anthony Harvey feels now because I felt
that way Thursday at practice when our coach told us we couldn't make the
playoffs,"Butler senior Sean Lowry said.
It was Lowry who nailed the lid shut on the Hurricanes' playoff hopes Friday.
He sank 3 of 4 free throws in the final 17 seconds, including both ends of a one-and-one
with 5.6 seconds remaining to give
Butler took the lead for good with 3:44 left in the first half when a Lowry
3-pointer snapped a 9-all tie. But the Tornado never led by more than seven
points.
Butler held on despite 10 turnovers in the second half. New Castle (11-12, 4-8)
had only nine turnovers all night, but had three critical ones in the final
1:20.
Harvey stepped out of bounds while driving the baseline with 1:20 left and his
team trailing 33-31. Tornado guard Clark Liebler stole the ball from him with
19.2 seconds left and Butler leading 34-33.
Lowry sank one of two free throws with 17 seconds left. Harvey then lost the
handle on the basketball with six seconds to go, Liebler diving on it and
getting it to Lowry, who then sank the game-clinching free throws.
"Two loose balls on the floor in the final seconds and who comes up with
them?Clark Liebler,"Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "That kid is
incredible. Then Lowry, a senior playing his final game, sinks the free throws
that win the game for us.
"We can't control the tiebreakers. But coming in here and winning ... this
is huge for our kids."
Lowry had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Butler. Chris Klutinoty added 11
points.
Harvey paced New Castle with 18 points and seven rebounds, but saw his
1,000-point prep career come to an end.
"We got the ball in the guy's hands we wanted it in late, but Anthony
turned it over three times,"Sarandrea said. "He could turn it over 20
times and I'd forgive him. He's forgiven for every mistake he makes here
because he lays it all on the line every game."
"He's the most competitive kid I've faced in our section,"Lowry said.
New Castle sank only 11 of 41 shots from the field, 3 of 21 from 3-point range,
and eight of 15 from the foul line.
"We got every conceivable break in the standings to make the playoffs, but
did nothing to help ourselves," Sarandrea said. "North Hills lost
their last six section games. Shaler beat Seneca Valley so we could control our
own destiny. Then we lose our final four section games, two of them at
home."
Butler had a 32-24 edge in rebounds.
Butler's junior varsity ended the season at 19-5 with a 45-39 triumph.
BUTLER 37
Mike Pratkanis 0-3 0-0 0, Aaron Dorondo 0-0 0-0 0, Clark Liebler 1-2 3-4 5,
Zach Cuffman 1-4 1-2 3, Jace Lumley 2-4 0-0 4, Sean Lowry 4-9 5-6 14, Chris
Klutinoty 4-11 1-1 11. Totals: 12-33 10-13 37
NEW CASTLE 33
Anthony Harvey 5-11 7-9 18, Tyrone Steals 1-5 0-0 2, Nick Colella 1-11 1-7 3,
Chris Richards 2-7 0-0 6, Michael Andrews 0-0 0-0 0, Antonio Mathews 2-4 0-0 4,
Michael Cox 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 11-41 8-15 33
Butler 8 10 8 1137
New Castle 5 8 11 933
3-point goals: Lowry, Klutinoty 2; Harvey, Richards 2
JV: Butler, 45-39 (B-Nick Powers 8, Bill Coleman 8