FOX CHAPEL — Woodland Hills wanted to run, but Butler was running ahead of the Wolverines.

The stretch run was what did in the Golden Tornado.

Butler coughed up a 15-point lead in the second half and was outscored 28-14 in the final 10 minutes while dropping a 69-67 decision in the first round of the Peter Sauer Memorial boys basketball tournament Tuesday at Shady Side Academy.

“This comes down to pride, simple as that,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “They wanted it much more than we did.

“How many rebounds did they have in the second half? 30? 40? You can't keep giving up offensive rebounds and letting them just lob the ball inside for easy lay-ups.”

When Ethan Morton stuck back an offensive rebound with 6:27 left in the third quarter, the Tornado (4-3) had built a 45-30 lead. By the end of the third period, that margin was down to 55-50.

Six-foot-two senior forward Deontae Robertson was a big reason why.

Robertson scored 20 of his 32 points in the second half as Butler had no answer for him. He grabbed 10 rebounds as well.

“Butler went to a zone and Deontae said he felt like he could get open down low against that defense,” Woodland Hills coach Odell Miller said. “Amante (junior point guard Britt) told him he was able to penetrate and to be watching for the ball, he'd be getting it to him.

“That's exactly what he did.”

That duo dissected the Tornado defense down the stretch.

Butler still had a 63-55 lead with less than five minutes to play, but Robertson scored four straight buckets inside to tie the game with 3:36 to play.

Tyler Frederick completed a 3-point play with 3:12 left to give the Tornado a 66-63 edge. After Woodland Hills (4-2) took a brief one-point lead, Frederick knotted the game at 67 with a free throw with 48 seconds left.

“You can only switch defenses so many times. They were running right through every one of them,” Clement said. “Our defensive effort was sad in this game.”

Almost fittingly, the deciding bucket came on a Britt dish inside to Robertson, who converted the lay-up with 11.8 seconds left. Butler would have two more possessions, but turned it over both times.

Britt had 14 points, 10 assists and four steals for the Wolverines. Kenny Lee contributed eight points and six assists.

Woodland Hills had six rebounds in the first half. The Wolverines ended the game with 30.

“When we saw the schedule had us playing Latrobe, Fox Chapel and Butler right in a row, we knew it'd be a tough stretch for us,” Miller said. “We lost tough games to Latrobe and Fox Chapel, so getting this win is a big lift.

“Butler has a great basketball team. This was a great game.”

Morton led Butler with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Frederick had 13 points and five boards despite sitting part of the second half in foul trouble.

Joel Stutz had 11 points and three assists, Jace Stutz 10 points for the Tornado. Connor Ollio had seven rebounds and four steals.

“Woodland Hills made some big plays to get back in this game. I give credit to them,” Clement said. “But our guys think we're going to win something ... We're not even a playoff team right now. We're not even close to being good, based on that defensive effort in the second half.

“They ran right through us. We stopped rebounding. What caused all that, I really don't know. But we have to fix it.”

Woodland Hills played without 6-6 forward and college prospect Tyrese Robinson, who missed the game for disciplinary reasons.

WOODLAND HILLS 69

Amante Britt 6-10 2-2 14, Tre-Mon Josey 1-4 0-0 2, Kenny Lee 3-11 1-2 8, Keandre Bowles 2-9 1-2 5, Dashon Mockabee 3-5 0-0 6, Deontae Robertson 16-19 0-1 32, Khalil Wilson 0-2 0-0 0, Jacquae Thomas 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 32-61 4-8 69.

BUTLER 67

Jace Stutz 4-9 0-0 10, Ian McCarrier 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Gray 2-4 0-0 6, Tyler Frederick 3-5 7-9 13, Connor Ollio 2-6 2-2 6, Ethan Morton 7-15 2-4 18, Joel Stutz 4-10 0-0 11, Jefferson Ford 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 23-51 11-15 67.

Woodland Hills 14 14 22 19 — 69

Butler21 21 13 12 — 67

3-point goals: Lee; Ja.Stutz 2, Gray 2, Morton 2, Jo.Stutz 3, Ford

JV: Butler, 38-31 (B: Tarick Taoufik 15, Isaiah Scribner 8)

Today: Butler vs. Cumberland Valley @ Peter Sauer Memorial, 3 p.m.