Butler survives NA trey storm in 78-75 victory
February 23, 2021 High School Basketball
WEXFORD — North Allegheny rained down treys
in the third quarter. Butler missed five free throws in the final 28 seconds of
the fourth.
But the Golden Tornado managed to hold on
for a 78-75 Section 1-6A boys basketball win Monday night on the Tigers' floor.
The victory — Butler's fifth straight —
enabled the Tornado to avoid being swept by the Tigers in their three section
meetings this year.
“I wasn't worried about us getting swept. We
just came here trying to win a basketball game,” Butler coach Matt Clement
said. “We're grinding it out right now.”
The game saw six ties and four lead changes.
Butler (10-7, 5-6) had a 10-point lead early in the third quarter, but NA
(13-6, 8-4) sank seven treys during a 30-point third period to take a 66-65
edge into the fourth. Matt McDonough had five of the treys.
The Tornado began the final frame with a
10-0 run — two layups and a trey by Devin Carney, followed by a David Leslie
trey — to grab a 75-66 lead with 5:27 left.
The Tornado had chances to put the game away
at the foul line late, but Raine Gratzmiller missed the front end of a
one-and-one with 28.3 seconds left, Charlie Kreinbucher missed a pair of free
throws after snaring an offensive rebound, and Carney hit one of two free
throws with 19.8 and six seconds to play.
“We're a good foul-shooting team, but even
the best ones miss sometimes,” Clement said. “When a great foul shooter misses,
he usually comes back and hits a bunch in a row.
“Just one of those things.”
Carney's free throw with six seconds to play
gave Butler the 78-75 lead. Greg Habib's 3-point shot at the buzzer was wide of
the mark as the Tigers dropped their fourth straight section game.
“I hate playing each team three times,” NA
coach Dan DeRose said of section play. “I think it's dumb. All we're doing is
beating each other up.
“We're been missing a few guys (with
injury). Look at the big picture and we've still beaten teams two out of three
times.”
Carney paced Butler with 36 points. Mattix
Clement added 16 — all in the first half — and three steals. Leslie contributed
13 points, sinking three treys, while Gratzmiller had 11 points and three
assists. Kreinbucher had six rebounds.
McDonough led the Tigers with 21 points.
Ethan Lake had 12 points and seven rebounds, Jack Christy 12 points and six
assists, Habib 11 points and six assists.
Tiger center Khall Dinkins missed much of
the first half with foul trouble and finished with 10 points and seven boards.
“Charlie has a future in football and he's
out here playing basketball with an immobilized thumb, mixing it up with the
most physical player in our section, because he loves his school and his
teammates,” Clement said. “That says a lot about that kid.”
Butler wraps up the regular season Wednesday
at Seneca Valley.
BUTLER 78
Raine Gratzmiller 4-6 2-3 11, Devin Carney
11-20 10-15 36, Mattix Clement 4-9 5-6 16, Colin Patterson 0-2 0-0 0, Charlie
Kreinbucher 1-1 0-2 2, Madden Clement 0-1 0-0 0, David Leslie 5-8 0-0 13.
Totals: 25-47 17-25 78.
NORTH ALLEGHENY 75
Greg Habib 2-4 6-9 11, Jack Christy 4-10 0-0
12, Greg Phillips 1-3 0-0 2, Matt McDonough 7-10 1-2 21, Connor Casten 3-3 1-1
7, Anthony Sciote 0-1 0-0 0, Khalil Dinkins 4-7 2-4 10. Totals: 26-44 11-15 75.
Butler 18 25 22 13 — 78
North Allegheny16 20 30 9 — 75
3-point goals: Gratzmiller, Carney 4,
Mat.Clement 3, Leslie 3; Habib, Christy 4, McDonough 6, Lake
JV: North Allegheny, 61-45 (B: Hayden
Thompson 13, Lance Slater 12; NA: Joe Dopirak 14, Anthony Sciote 10, Anthony
Howard 10)