Butler basketball off to 2-0 start

Golden Tornado cruise past Summit, 76-35

John EnriettoEagle Staff Writer

December 11, 2017 High School Basketball 

 

PINE TWP — To say everybody contributed to Butler's 76-35 boys basketball win over Summit Academy in the Pine-Richland Tip-Off Tournament is more than accurate.

The Golden Tornado had 13 players score, 11 grab at least a couple of rebounds and seven dish off assists in the runaway victory.

“I was concerned coming into this game,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Playing early today after last night, I wasn't sure if we'd have our legs.

“Pine-Richland beat this team by turning them over. We're not the type of team that's going to win that way. Summit Academy has athletes ... I wasn't sure how this one was gonna go.”

It went Butler's way early and stayed that way.

The Tornado (2-0) shot out to a 9-2 lead in the first two and a half minutes, led 25-8 by the end of the quarter and were subbing a lot of players in by the second period.

Butler's leading scorer was freshman Mattix Clement. The coach's son made his varsity debut in the second quarter, draining four treys in less than three minutes. He wound up with five treys and 15 points.

The flurry of treys late in the half helped Butler assume a 54-14 halftime lead. The mercy clock ran for most of the second half.

“I don't even know what to say about that,” Coach Clement said of his son's production. “I know he can shoot. That's why we dress him varsity, for situations where we may need another shooter on the floor.

“I'm paying more attention to his defense and rebounding, but hitting some shots like that in a varsity game should give him confidence.”

Luke Michalek contributed 13 points, three rebounds and two assists for Butler. Ethan Morton had 11 points, 11 assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Ten of Morton's assists occurred in the first half. The Tornado's starting five played little in the second half.

“A lot of high school players can score. Not many high school players can pass like Ethan can. That's why he's being so heavily recruited,” Clement said.

“Luke is used to being a facilitator on the floor and he still is. But he hit a couple of floaters in the lane today and he knows we need him to score this year. We're looking to see more of that.”

Butler sank 28 of 50 shots from the floor and six Tornado players sank 3-pointers.

“Guys are going to get open looks, quality shots. We were hitting them,” Clement said.

The Tornado had a 36-21 rebounding advantage on Summit Academy, which attempted only three free throws all day.

Nayshawn Jones paced the Knights with eight points. Nine Summit Academy players scored in the contest.

“Opening against Pine-Richland and Butler was tough,” Knights coach Glenn Gutierrez admitted. “But we learned about things like team resolve and how to handle frustration.

“Our kids played hard throughout and that was encouraging. I thought we worried about the scoreboard too much Friday (81-26 loss). Today, I told them not to worry about the scoreboard. We had to focus on doing what we do and how well we do it.”

SUMMIT ACADEMY 35

Pierre Thomas 1-6 0-0 3, Luis Vasquez 1-2 0-0 3, David Carter 0-1 0-0 0, Jaylon Ketchum 1-5 0-0 2, Nayshawn Jones 4-6 0-0 8, Bailey Krall 2-7 0-0 4, Ramier Tolbert 1-3 0-0 2, Sacario Morgan 0-1 0-2 0, Bryan Noel 3-5 1-1 7, Nick O'Dellick 2-7 0-0 4, Mykail Wilson 1-5 0-0 2, Nasir Bluitt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 16-49 1-3 35.

BUTLER 76

Luke Michalek 6-9 0-0 13, John Michalek 2-5 0-0 5, Doug Kostelansky 0-1 2-4 2, Tarik Taoufik 3-4 0-0 6, Luke Patten 1-2 2-2 4, Mason Montag 2-3 1-2 6, Ethan Morton 3-7 4-4 11, Dom Schmidt 2-2 0-0 5, Isaiah Scribner 2-3 0-0 4, Colby Anderson 0-1 1-2 1, Nick Stazer 1-2 0-0 2, Ben Kranbacher 1-3 0-0 2, Mattix Clement 5-8 0-0 15. Totals: 28-50 10-14 76.

Summit Academy 8 6 12 9 — 35

Butler25 29 11 11 — 76

3-point goals: Thomas, Vasquez; L.Michalek, J.Michalek, Montag, Morton, Schmidt, Clement 5