BEAVER FALLS — Once Kennedy Catholic decided to run, the Golden Eagles ran away from Butler.

The defending PIAA Class A champion broke open a close game with a 13-0 run in the third quarter Friday night and cruised to a 74-52 season-opening boys basketball victory over the Golden Tornado at Geneva College.

Kennedy Catholic had just a 25-22 lead at halftime. Butler fought back from a 16-8 deficit to knot the game at 22 with 1:12 left in the half on freshman point guard Ethan Morton's third trey of the second quarter. The Golden Eagles took the lead for good on a three-point play by Drew Magestro with 26 seconds left before intermission.

Magestro is one of four returning starters from Kennedy Catholic's state title team that went 28-2 last season.

“We got punched in the mouth the first time and we responded,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “We got punched in the mouth the second time and we crumbled.

“That's uncharacteristic of the teams I've been coaching in this program.”

When Joel Stutz canned a trey with 4:58 left in the third period, the Tornado were within 31-29. Kennedy Catholic scored the next 13 points and closed the quarter with a 22-3 run.

Magestro, a senior guard headed to Pitt-Johnstown, scored 11 points in the quarter. Sophomore 6-foot-4 forward Maceo Austin — who has already received collegiate offers from Duquesne, West Virginia, Penn State and Akron — scored eight points in the period.

Most of the production came from fast-breaks off Butler turners or Golden Eagle defensive rebounds.

“The first game of the season, neither team ran at all in the first half,” Kennedy Catholic coach Rick Mancino said. “That's to be expected.

“(Senior guard) Channing Phillips got a couple of quick steals to set up transition and we were able to speed up the pace.”

Kennedy Catholic led by as many as 30 (73-43) with 1:25 left. Andrew Yonker came off the bench to hit three treys in the final 1:05 for Butler to tighten the final margin somewhat.

“Our defense was terrible in the second half,” Clement said. “Our help arrived late and then it left other people open. It was a snowball effect.

“When you play a team this good, you can't make mistakes like that and still win.”

Magestro had 25 points, six rebounds and six assists for Kennedy Catholic. Austin added 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

“They are two excellent, excellent basketball players,” Mancino said. “Magestro signed with UPJ early. He probably could have gone higher. He'll do well there.”

Morton led Butler with 15 points, 13 of those coming in the first half. Joel Stutz added 11 points. Tyler Frederck had eight rebounds.

“Ethan showed he is a cool customer out there,” Clement said. “He hit some big shots to keep us in the game early when we were struggling to find buckets.”

The Tornado had 20 turnovers and were outrebounded, 24-18.

“We're not ready to hang another banner yet,” Mancino said. “Butler is a very good team. They missed some open shots they don't normally miss.

“It will take a little time for their lineup to mesh with that freshman. But if we were to play them in another month or so, this score might be reversed.”

KENNEDY CATHOLIC 74

Manis Norman 0-0 0-0 0, Clay O'Dell 4-4 1-1 10, Mohamed Konate 1-4 1-2 4, Maceo Austin 9-16 4-4 22, Drew Magestro 11-14 2-2 25, Channing Phillips 1-3 2-3 4, Owen Cianci 0-0 1-2 1, Marcin Wiszominsky 3-4 0-0 6, Sonny Mancino 0-1 0-0 0, Ben Taylor 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 30-46 11-14 74.

BUTLER 52

Luke Michalek 0-1 0-0 0, Cade Negley 0-0 0-0 0, Ian McCarrier 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Gray 1-6 0-0 3, Connor Ollio 3-4 0-0 6, Ethan Morton 4-9 4-4 15, Jefferson Ford 0-0 0-0 0, Tyler Frederick 2-8 1-1 5, Joel Stutz 4-10 0-0 11, Jace Stutz 1-3 0-0 3, Andrew Yonker 3-4 0-0 9. Totals: 18-46 5-5 52.

Kennedy Cath. 9 16 28 21 — 74

Butler6 16 10 20 — 52

3-point goals: O'Dell, Konate, Magestro; Gray, Morton 3, Jo. Stutz 3, Ja. Stutz, Yonker 3

Monday: Burrell at Butler