Tornado
still in the race
By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
BUTLER TWP— Despite an 0-6 start in section play, the Butler boys basketball
team remains in the playoff hunt.
The Golden Tornado kept their postseason hopes alive by sinking 11 of 12 free
throws in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter and holding on for a
41-37 victory Tuesday night over Section 3-AAAA co-leader North Allegheny.
Butler (11-12, 3-8) made only one field goal in the fourth period and entered
the quarter 4-for-11 at the foul line for the night.
"I told the kids at halftime not to worry about it,"Butler coach Joe
Lewandowski said. "We're a good free throw shooting team. Just keep
shooting. They'll go in."
They went in when the Tornado needed them to.
Two Mike Pratkanis free throws gave Butler a 32-25 lead with 2:42 left in the
game. But North Allegheny (14-9, 8-3) stayed in the game down the stretch on
3-point field goals by Jeff Finke, Ross Constantino and Steve Kirsch.
Half of the Tigers' 14 field goals Tuesday night were treys.
"Anyone who's seen us play knows we're a 3-point shooting
team,"NAcoach Dave DeGregorio said. "Once we started penetrating
their zone and kicking the ball back out, we were getting some good
looks."
The Tigers trailed 32-29 when Butler's Sean Lowry drained two free throws with
1:28 left. They trailed 34-32 when Zach Cuffman sank two free throws for the
Tornado with 46 seconds to play.
Kirsch's trey pulled NAwithin 36-35, but Butler's Clark Liebler drained two
free throws with 24.5 seconds on the clock after he was sent to the line via an
intentional foul call on NA's Phil Hoffman.
Liebler took the inbounds pass, dribbled the ball up the floor and drove
straight toward the basket, forcing Hoffman to grab him.
"There are players on the floor bigger, stronger and better than Clark
Liebler, but he plays the game with all heart,"Lewandowski said.
Butler failed to take advantage of its possession after Liebler's free throws,
however, as NA's Ted Connolly stole the ball and drove the length of the floor
for a layup with 15 seconds left.
Liebler was fouled again — and hit both shots again — with 13.7 seconds to go
before Connolly's 3-point attempt landed short of the rim and went out of
bounds.
Chris Klutinoty sank one of two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to seal the
Tornado victory.
Butler survived seven turnovers in the final quarter in getting the win. The
Tornado had only four turnovers in the first three periods.
"We just had to settle down and do what we had to do,"Liebler said.
"This one feels great. Our seniors deserve this."
The Senior Night win came a day before Liebler's birthday.
Pratkanis had 11 points and seven rebounds for Butler. Lowry had 10 points and
11 boards after he willingly surrendered his starting spot in the lineup so
fellow seniors Jereme Buffington, Brian Deangelis, Aaron Dorondo, Jace Lumley
and Derek Stobert could start their final home game.
Cuffman had eight points, five rebounds and two steals while filling in for the
injured Cody Fleeger. Butler had a 29-19 advantage on the boards.
Connolly had nine points and five rebounds, while Finke had nine points for
North Allegheny.
Butler will make the WPIALplayoffs if Shaler defeats Seneca Valley and
Pine-Richland defeats North Hills tonight, and if Butler defeats New Castle and
NAdefeats North Hills Friday night.
"I hope it happens for these kids,"Lewandowski said. "They've
never stopped working. They've never stopped believing."
Butler pulled off an improbable 58-55 overtime win in the junior varsity game.
The Tornado trailed by five points with five seconds left in regulation.
Jeff Slater sank a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left. After a successful North
Allegheny free throw, Matt Maloy hit a trey at the buzzer to force overtime.
NORTH ALLEGHENY 37
Phil Hoffman 1-1 1-3 3, Jon Masuga 1-11 0-0 3, Ross Constantino 1-4 0-0 3, Ted
Connolly 4-12 1-1 9, Damian Founds 1-4 0-1 2, Steve Kirsch 2-2 0-0 6, Adam
Neugebauer 0-0 0-0 0, Jeff Finke 3-8 0-0 9, Dan Kusyner 1-1 0-0 2, Jeff Haus 0-1
0-0 0. Totals: 14-44 2-5 37
BUTLER 41
Mike Pratkanis 4-5 2-2 11, Aaron Dorondo 0-0 0-0 0, Clark Liebler 1-3 6-6 9,
Jace Lumley 0-1 0-0 0, Jereme Buffington 0-0 0-0 0, Brian Deangelis 0-0 0-0 0,
Sean Lowry 4-9 2-5 10, Chris Klutinoty 1-6 1-2 3, Derek Stobert 0-0 0-0 0, Zach
Cuffman 2-3 4-8 8. Totals: 12-27 15-23 41
North Allegheny 6 9 8 14—37
Butler 10 4 14 13—41
3-point goals: Masuga, Constantino, Kirsch 2, Finke 3; Pratkanis, Liebler
JV: Butler, 58-55 in OT (B-Jeff Slater 14, NA:Jeff Haus 11)