Sweeps week
Butler tops WA, goes 3-0 at Sauer tourney

By Mike Kilroy 
Eagle Staff Writer 

FOX CHAPEL — It wasn't exactly what Butler boys basketball coach Matt Clement was looking for, but he'll take it. 
The Golden Tornado nearly squandered a 13-point halftime lead, but surged back ahead by double-digits in the fourth quarter and outlasted West Allegheny, 58-49, on the final day of the Peter Sauer Memorial Holiday Tournament at Shady Side Academy Wednesday night. 
Butler went 3-0 in the three day, round-robin event. 
“It was a tricky tournament because it was a round-robin format,” Clement said. “Usually you're playing for a championship and that gets you going. 
“I felt like we defended fine,” Clement added. “I felt like we shot like we had some tired legs.” 
Butler (8-3) beat quad-A teams Fox Chapel and Woodland Hills Monday and Tuesday, but struggled a bit against Class AAA West Allegheny (3-8). 
The Golden Tornado stifled the Indians in the first half, holding them to just 12 points in taking a 25-12 lead. 
But West Allegheny stars Isaiah Crowe and Kenny White played sparingly in the first half. 
In the second half, the duo combined for 22 points and helped their team draw as close as 27-24 in the third quarter. 
“We had a couple of guys who were limited in minutes in the first half for disciplinary things,” said West Allegheny coach Dan Marshall. “So, we had a couple guys come back in the second half who helped us. We were a lot more focused than we have been in the games before this. We're growing up. We're a young team that is a little immature. I think this was a step in the right direction.” 
Kaden Rock stemmed the Indians' rally in the fourth quarter with 10 of his team-leading 14 points. 
Tyler Frederick added 11 points and 13 rebounds — 10 of those boards on the offensive glass — and Connor Ollio pitched in 10 points for the Tornado, which entered this three-day stretch coming off losses to Lincoln Park and North Allegheny.