Playmaking reserve Kyle Casteel leads unbeaten Butler boys basketball to win vs Freeport

December 07, 2024 Last Updated: December 08, 2024 07:57 PM Sports

BUFFALO TWP — Butler boys basketball continues to learn something with each win this season.

This time, it was what to expect from backup guard Kyle Casteel when thrust into extra minutes.

Butler’s Kyle Casteel (10) and Freeport’s Sean Sellinger (5) wait for a rebound after a free throw attempt in a boys basketball game during the Freeport Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Freeport Middle School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle

Casteel provided a steadying presence and crisp playmaking as the team ran to a 4-0 start to the season with Saturday’s 78-48 win in the Freeport Tip-Off Tournament over the host Yellowjackets at Freeport Middle School.

Casteel is typically one of the first reserves off the bench for the Golden Tornado, but Saturday he was asked for more after dynamic wing Stainton Forbes left midway through the second quarter with a leg injury he suffered landing hard on his side following the second of two thunderous dunks.

A junior forward, Casteel showed he still has his old point guard skills with some impressive passes to set up teammates, finishing with six assists. He also scored six points, all in the third quarter, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

“Growing up I was this little scrawny kid, so I was always the point guard,” he said. “And then I got bigger, so I got moved to big man. (Coach Matt Clement), he’s always known I’ve been able to dribble the ball, so he believes in me, he thinks I can do everything.”

Forbes did not return to the game. Clement said he wanted to be cautious in a non-section game with the junior, who had nine points and six rebounds, unofficially, before exiting.

Casteel’s game is different from Forbes. Where the latter is one of the best rebounders Clement has coached and plays an attacking, physical brand of basketball, the former is more of a facilitator who still provides support on the glass.

“You put Kyle and (starting point guard Andrew Gettinger) with the ball, I was just telling the guys in (the locker room), they’re gonna make some mistakes having the ball in their hands, but it really opens up the rest of our team to not have to work as hard,” Clement said.

Butler barely missed a beat.

Casteel’s playmaking allowed Tayt Lucas, Ayden Andrews and Gettinger — three players who have shined already this season in different games — to do their thing.

Lucas knocked down 9 of 18 shots, including three 3-pointers, to finish with a game- high 21 points. Nine of those came in the third quarter when Casteel made his biggest impact as Butler blew open a 34-26 halftime advantage into a 52- 37 rout.

Andrews knocked down four treys, including three after intermission, to finish with 15 points. And Gettinger stuffed the box score again with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, adding an unofficial seven boards, two assists, four steals and two blocks.

“I’m not gonna fill Stainton’s role, I’m not gonna (do what he does), but just being that extra person we need to catapult us to that victory,” Casteel said.

The only blemish on an otherwise impressive win was the Tornado’s slow start. Freeport (1-3) jumped out to a 12-6 lead thanks to a couple forced turnovers.

Carson Kane made a pair of treys for eight points in the first quarter, finishing with 17 on the night.

“We came out with some high energy which is what we’re trying to do, and we shared the ball,” said Yellowjackets coach Rich Macura, who knew his team was in for a challenge against a bigger school with a long, athletic roster.

Michael Graczyk added 13 points for the hosts. But Freeport was pressed into 21 turnovers, 14 coming in the first half, that undid the early lead.

“I think the big thing we learned is when you are willing to sacrifice your ego and your bodies, things go well for the team,” Macura said.

BUTLER 78

Ayden Andrews 4 3-3 15; Jace Gratzmiller 2 2-2 6; Stainton Forbes 3 1-1 7; Tayt Lucas 9 0-0 21; Andrew Gettinger 8 1-1 18; Mavrik Clement 1 0-0 2; Kyle Casteel 2 1-2 6; Tanner Pry 0 0-0 0; Zavyr Gregory 0 0-0 0; Jaydon Wilbert 0 0-0 0; Tobias Geibel 1 0-0 3; Max Byers 0 0-0 0; Cael Hanley 0 0-0 0; Brock Collins 0 0-0 0. Totals: 30 8-9 78.

FREEPORT 48

Danny King 1 1-2 3; Bryson Paga 4 0-3 8; Sean Selinger 1 1-1 3; Carson Kane 5 4-4 17; Michael Graczyk 6 0-1 13; CJ Walker 0 0-0 0; Gavin Tola 1 1-4 4; Cam Zigo 0 0-0 0; Dempsey Cowan 0 0-0 0; Owen Westendorf 0 0-0 0; Max Zigo 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 7-15 48.

Butler 13 21 28 16 – 78

Freeport 16 10 11 11 – 48

3-point goals: Butler 10 (Andrews 4, Lucas 3, Gettinger, Casteel, Geibel); Freeport 5 (Kane 3, Graczyk, Tola).