Lowry cuts loose
Senior scores 36 points in Butler victory

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By MIKEKILROY
Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — In just eight minutes, all the pain, all the disappointment and all the anguish of a season lost melted away for Sean Lowry.
The 6-foot-6, do-everything senior for the Butler boys basketball team scored 16 of his team's 18 points in the third quarter to help the Golden Tornado pull away fromWoodland Hills in a 54-39 home win Tuesday night.
It also exorcized some demons.
"I just felt like I had to do what I had to do," Lowry said. "It isn't about me scoring the points. It's about the team winning."
It was also about Lowry feeling like he was back.
Lowry spent last season recovering from a serious knee injury. It was a long winter of rehab and watching games from his perch at the end of the bench.
"From sitting on the last chair on the bench (last year), to coming out and playing every game (this year), it's been great," Lowry said. "It really helped me appreciate every moment I am out there."
Lowry had 11 points in the first half as the Golden Tornado entered the break clinging to a four-point lead.
In the third quarter, Lowry did everything but keep both scorebooks and change the possession arrow.
He was 7-of-8 shooting in the period and helped Butler turn a slim lead into a nine-point bulge.
The lead grew to as many as 15 midway through the fourth quarter.
"I think (Lowry) would be a tough matchup for anybody," said Woodland Hills coach Aaron Tipton. "He can bang on the inside with the big guys and shoot from the outside. He can take it to the hole, or shoot the 3."
Lowry finished the game 14-of-17 shooting for 36 points. He hit three 3-pointers, had eight rebounds and was a general nuisance for Woodland Hills.
It didn't help that the Wolverines lost their 6-7 big man, Rob Gronkowski, midway through the second quarter when he landed awkwardly on his right ankle and didn't return.
Before he was forced to leave the game, he had nine points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes of play.
Gronkowski is being recruited by several Big Ten teams to play football.
"I hope he's all right," Lewandowski said. "He's a physical presence out there. There are very few kids you see with that body type and size."
Lewandowski is certainly happy he has a big man who can play.
The secret to Lowry's early season success has been his ability to play as a big man, as a guard, or in whatever role Lewandowski puts him in.
Lowry made a big splash in the season opener, scoring 20 points, but tweaked his knee in the second game.
"I guess my knee is feeling better," Lowry said with a sly smile.
He relishes the multiple roles he has been asked to play this season.
"If I want to play at the next level, I'm going to have to do that," Lowry said. "I'm going to have to be able to handle the pressure."
Lewandowski also was pleased with the play of his bench.
BillColeman, Zach Cuffman and Christos Klutinoty pitched in a total of 12 points. Cuffman and Klutinoty each had five points to tie as the second-leading scorers for the Tornado Tuesday night.
Lewandowski has adjusted his starting lineup game by game to find a rotation.
"BillColeman blocked Gronkowski's shot two times, he's rebounding the basketball, he's attacking the rim," Lewandowski said. "We're really young, so we've been tinkering with a lot of lineups. We're trying to go get to the point by section play that we have a rotation and the only way to do that is to play guys and see how they mesh."

WOODLANDHILLS 39
Dorian Lane 1-2 0-0 2, Ryan Lee 6-3 2-2 15, Antoine Flowers 1-10 0-0 3, Daryl Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Tyron Manns 0-2 0-0 0, Robert Mitchell 3-7 0-0 6, Ayzeem Bey 1-1 0-0 2, Michael Dykes 0-2 0-2 0, Rob Gronkowski 4-8 1-5 9. Totals: 17-46 3-9 39
BUTLER 54
Mike Pratkanis 0-7 0-0 0, Brian DeAngelo 1-2 0-0 2, Cody Fleeger 1-5 2-3 4, Christos Klutinoty 2-3 0-0 5, Sean Lowry 14-17 5-8 36, Zach Cuffman 1-1 2-2 5, Jereme Buffington 0-1 0-0 0, BillColeman 0-1 2-2 2, Austin Snodgrass 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Melder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-37 11-15 54.
Woodland Hills 8 11 11 9—39
Butler 10 13 18 13—54
3-point goals: Lee, Flowers, Lowry 3, Cuffman, Klutinoty
JV: Butler 56-36