Ayden Andrews leads Butler boys basketball in win over Kiski Area: ‘Tonight was my night’

December 03, 2024 Last Updated: December 03, 2024 11:08 PM Sports

BUTLER TWP — Being guarded the length of the court Saturday against Obama Academy, Butler senior Ayden Andrews was limited to a mere three points.

“I was getting mad because I wasn’t playing as well as I wanted to. I knew that it just wasn’t my time. ... Now tonight was my night,” Andrews said Tuesday night after scoring a team-high 18 points in a 72-67 home-opening win over Kiski Area (0-1).

He added four rebounds and an assist as the Golden Tornado (2-0) led for all but eight seconds.

Butler senior Ayden Andrews passes the ball during a game against Kiski Area in a boys basketball game Tuesday at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

ROB MCGRAW

“I feel like we’re going to have three people in double figures every game, with the potential of five — with the potential of two being over 20 at the same time,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Ayden was the odd man out if you want to say so on Saturday, and he was the high scorer today. I’m not worried where (the points) are coming from because I know they’re going to come.”

Andrew Gettinger had 17 points and Stainton Forbes 16 to round out the team’s double-digit scorers.

“As much as we move the ball and as much chemistry as we have, you can’t just put one guy on one player, you know?” Andrews said. “We all can score. If my shot’s falling, then Getty’s shot’s falling, then Stainton’s shot’s falling.”

Andrews drained the first bucket of the contest from beyond the arc. His second 3 of the night, not long into the next frame, gave his team its first double-digit lead of the night. The Cavaliers fought back to within four thanks to Colin Keller’s tap-in before the halftime buzzer.

The Golden Tornado opened the latter half on a 9-2 run as Andrews hit a trey and sunk a pair from the line during that span of 2 minutes, 12 seconds. Butler climbed as high as 13 points up on Kiski — that coming after Kyle Casteel’s trip to the stripe with 3:05 remaining in the third — but things weren’t a cake walk toward the end.

Butler players high-five during pregame introductions ahead of defeating Kiski 72-67 in a boys basketball game Tuesday at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

ROB MCGRAW

An 11-2 fourth-quarter surge – powered by baskets from Amaree Gonzalez, Jacob Musselman, Andrew Zepeda, and Keller — brought the Cavaliers as close as they’d been since being down one 3:50 into the game.

“We must’ve just got tired,” Andrews said. “It was the end of the game. We were up by, like, 10, so we may have let off a little bit. Then we realized as they started getting closer we had to lock back in and turn it back up and take care of the ball.”

With 32 seconds left, Gonzalez swished a 3 in response to Forbes’ pair at the free throw line 1:02 earlier. Tayt Lucas, Jace Gratzmiller, Mavrik Clement, Forbes and Andrews played hot potato as a precursor to Gettinger’s final walk to the stripe, which put the game out of reach with three ticks left.

“It’s why you play these before-section games,” Clement said. “You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to do some good things, some bad things. ... They’re known for switching their defenses, making it hard on you.

“Any win is a good win early.”

Butler junior Kyle Casteel takes it to the rim during a game against Kiski Area in a boys basketball game Tuesday at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

ROB MCGRAW

KISKI AREA 67

Jacob Musselman 6 3-4 17, Amaree Gonzalez 6 2-2 16, Colin Keller 5 0-0 13, Carson Heinkle 4 1-2 9, Tyler McDermont 3 0-0 6, Andrew Zepeda 2 0-0 4, Teegan Shirley 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 6-8 67.

BUTLER 72

Ayden Andrews 4 6-8 18, Andrew Gettinger 5 6-6 17, Stainton Forbes 4 8-12 16, Kyle Casteel 2 2-2 8, Jace Gratzmiller 2 3-4 7, Taite Lucas 2 0-0 6. Totals: 19 25-32 72.

Kiski Area 11 21 17 18 — 67

Butler 19 17 21 15 — 72

3-point goals: Butler 9 (Andrews 4, Casteel 2, Lucas 2, Gettinger); Kiski Area 5 (Keller 3, Gonzalez 2)