Tornado off to 3-0 start
Key 4th quarter 3-pointers help Butler boys top Brashear, 61-45

By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor

PITTSBURGH — Butler's shooting was spotty — but spotted up when it counted.
The Golden Tornado sank just 3-of 15 shots from beyond the 3-point line in the first half and found themselves tied at 37 with 1:34 left in the third quarter Tuesday night at Brashear.
Then Justice Lewandowski connected for four treys to help break the game open and lead Butler to a 61-45 boys basketball victory over the Bulls. Lewandowski was 1 of 6 from the field before going on his rampage.
“If this was last year, he would have stopped shooting after that kind of a start,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “This shows how much Justice has grown as a player.”
When Brashear's Jeff Arnold sank two free throws to knot the game at 37, it marked the sixth time the score had been tied. There were six lead changes to that point and Butler never led by more than five.
Lewandowski sank his first trey with 33 seconds left in the third period to break the tie. Tyler Frederick added two free throws and the Tornado took a 42-37 lead into the final quarter.
Lewandowski and Andrew Paterno — who also struck for four treys on the night — began the fourth quarter with 3-pointers and Butler had a 48-37 lead with 6:49 to play.
“They took off on an 11-0 run in like 40 seconds, it seemed,” Brashear coach Carey White said. “Down 11 in the fourth against a team that plays defense like they do ... That's a tough mountain to climb.
“For three quarters, we played well. In the fourth, we wore out.”
Clement wasn't surprised.
“This was a high-energy, back and forth game,” the Butler coach said. “When you play as many guys as we do (12) and they play as many as they do (8) in that type of game, they were going to get tired.
“Earlier in the game, they were hitting contested shots. They weren't hitting them late and they started to throw the ball away.”
The Bulls managed to get within 48-42 with 4:26 left, but two more Lewandowski treys and a Frederick free throw upped the margin to 11 again. Lay-ups by Frederick and Clifford Anderson on consecutive possessions hiked the count to 59-43 with less than two minutes to go.
“That No. 11 (Lewandowski) stepped up and drained some big shots for them,” White said. “They were the difference in the game.”
Butler sank seven of 14 from beyond the arch in the second half. The Tornado sank 10 treys to Brashear's one overall.
Paterno paced Butler with 17 points and three assists. Lewandowski had 15 points and five rebounds, Frederick 12 points and nine boards.
“This was Tyler's best all-around game so far. He was getting after it,” Clement said.
Tyler Pinkston paced Brashear (1-2) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Malik Petite had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.
The Bulls were 2-20 last season.
“That was with all sophomores,” White said. “Now those kids have grown up. We expect to be much better in the City League this year.”
Butler struggled offensively in the first half, sinking just nine of 29 shots and three of seven free throws.
“But our defense was always there. It kept us in it,” Clement said. “This was a game we would have lost last year.
“There is no drop-off on defense no matter who I put in there.”
The Tornado (3-0) open section play Friday night, hosting North Hills.
BUTLER 61
Damien Pickett 1-4 0-1 2, Kelley Kuharic 0-4 0-0 0, Kaden Rock 0-3 0-0 0, Jace Stutz 2-4 0-0 6, Justice Lewandowski 5-11 1-1 15, Keenan Krause 1-4 2-2 4, Andrew Paterno 6-12 1-2 17, Tyler Frederick 4-9 4-6 12, Clifford Anderson 1-1 0-0 2, Joel Stutz 0-0 0-0 0, Eric Hindman 0-0 0-0 0, Mark Gross 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 21-54 9-16 61.
BRASHEAR 45
Malik Petite 3-12 2-3 10, Mike Reece 2-3 1-2 6, Therran Cooleman 2-4 0-0 4, joe Love 1-2 0-0 3, Tyler Pinkston 5-11 2-4 12, Deymond Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Miie Zellous 2-5 0-2 4; Jeff Arnold 1-4 1-2 4. Totals: 17-43 7-13 45.
Butler 17 7 18 19 — 61
Brashear14 12 11 8 — 45
3-point goals: Ja.Stutz 2, Lewqandowski 4, Paterno 4; Petite
JV: Butler, 69-44 (B: Jace Stutz 17, Kirkland Porter 11, Connor Ollio 10; BR: Jiggz Cabral 14)