Butler uses fast break to turn tide during 87-79 Section
3-AAAA win over P-R
By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
PINE TWP —
After watching an eight-point fourth-quarter lead get cut to 81-79
Friday night at Pine-Richland, the Golden Tornado turned the ball over with
The Rams tried a 3-point shot for the lead, but the long rebound found
its way to Joel Stutz. He found his brother, Jace,
breaking free the other way. Jace Stutz laid the ball
in, was fouled and completed the 3-point play.
And
“That was all communication,” Jace Stutz said.”Joel and I have it. We all have it. He saw me get
free downcourt and got me the ball.”
The play gave the Golden Tornado (5-1, 2-1) a five-point lead with 42
seconds left. The Rams (3-4, 0-2) never scored again.
Neither team ever held a double digit lead all night. The score was tied
five times and the lead changed hands on six occasions.
Pine-Richland never led in the fourth quarter. The Rams' last advantage
was at 55-54 with
“This game was at a fast tempo and we were in good enough shape to play
that way throughout,”
“Once we built a lead in the fourth, we were able to slow the pace to
just a notch under crazy and protected the lead.”
Five players scored in double figures for the Tornado. Sophomore forward
Connor Ollio led the way with 23 points while Tyler
Frederick had 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Jace Stutz had 14 points and seven assists,
Joel Stutz 10 points and six assists.
“We didn't defend well enough. We haven't been defending in games,”
Pine-Richland coach Jeff Ackermann said. “To allow five players in double
digits just shouldn't happen.
We weren't getting any stops with our man-to-man, so we switched to a
Kaden Rock opened the fourth quarter with those
treys, upping
“You're talking about one of the best high school quarterbacks in the
country who would have a future in this sport if he wasn't so good at the other
one,” Clement said. “Connor guarded him all night.
“That was an interesting match-up between two kids who are so great at
another sport. They are true athletes. There were great athletes all over this
floor tonight.”
Ollio made Team
Andrew Petcash led five Rams in double figures
with 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Adam Alexander and Alex Goitz had 12 points each, Charlie Tortorice
10 points and six rebounds.
“The common theme is that everybody seems to be shooting the ball great
against us,” Ackermann said. “We need to learn how to get stops because we can
score with anybody.”
Pine-Richland had a 35-26 edge in rebounding. The Rams turned the ball
over seven times in the third quarter while losing a slight lead.
“This was a huge win for us,”
Jace Stutz called the victory “the best win
I've been associated with here. A win like this helps to build chemistry.”
“We don't just want one big win like this,” Clement said. “Hopefully,
this win will lead to a few more like it.”
Kaden Rock 3-6 0-0 9, Luke Michalek
3-7 2-4 10, Jace Stutz 5-7 2-3 14, Jason Gray 1-2 0-0
2, Tyler Frederick 7-13 2-3 17, Connor Ollio 9-10 5-5
23, Joel Stutz 3-9 2-4 10, Jefferson Ford 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 32-56 14-19 87.
PINE-RICHLAND 79
Adam Alexander 5-11 1-3 12, Andrew Petcash
9-17 3-4 24, Nolan Rausch 0-1 0-0 0, Alex Goitz 4-12
1-2 12, Andrew Kristofic 1-1 0-0 2, Phil Jurkovec 6-10 2-3 14, Kordell
Kirkland 2-2 1-1 5, Charlie Tortorice 4-7 2-4 10.
Totals: 31-61 10-16 79.
Pine-Richland21 22 21 15 — 79
3-point goals: Rock 3, Michalek 2, Ja. Stutz 2, Frederick, Jo. Stutz;
Alexander, Petcash 3, Goitz
3
JV: Pine-Richland, 64-46 (B: Jason Gray 11, P-R: Daniel Petcash 17)