OAKLAND — Digging out of an early 14-point hole, Butler finally pulled even with 5:40 to play Tuesday night at Central Catholic.

The Golden Tornado couldn't close the deal, however, dropping a 61-54 decision to the Vikings. The win enabled Central (13-7, 10-2) to wrap up the Section 1-6A boys basketball title.

A Butler win would have guaranteed the Golden Tornado (17-3, 8-3) at least a share of their first section crown since 1992.

“I hurt for those kids in there,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “This (section title) was one of our goals. We came close. We just didn't get it done.

“It took us too long to get started tonight.”

A 14-0 run gave Central a 16-2 lead seven minutes into the game, forcing Clement to burn a few timeouts early.

“I normally don't like to do that, but we had to break up their runs,” the coach said. “We kept switching things around, looking for something to get us going.”

Managing only one 3-point field goal in the first half, Butler drained six in the final two quarters while getting back in the game.

A trey by Luke Patten pulled the Tornado within 40-34 at the end of the third quarter. Two treys by Mattix Clement knotted the game at 42 with 5:40 to play.

“We did a good job defensively in coming out and forcing their shooters off their spots,” Vikings coach Chuck Crummie said. “I think we got a little tired in the second half and didn't get out on their shooters quick enough.”

The Vikings used a mini 5-0 spurt to take the lead back for good. Justin Tarrant stuck back an offensive rebound, Cole Mason hit a lay-up and Luke Nedrow canned a free throw.

After a Central turnover, Butler pulled within 54-52 on a pair of Ethan Morton free throws with 11.2 seconds left. But Central's Brandon Boyce drained a pair of free throws of his own immediately afterward to ice the game.

Maurice Shipman sank a meaningless trey at the buzzer to account for the final seven-point margin.

Butler did not register a field goal in the game until Morton's jumper in the final second of the first quarter.

“We never let the environment of a game bother us before, but I think we did at the start of this game,” Clement said.

Morton led the Tornado with 23 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Mattix Clement sank three treys for nine points while Luke Michalek scored seven points and had five assists.

Michalek played the final four minutes with four fouls.

Tarrant paced Central with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Nedrow had 15 points, seven boards and four assists. The Vikings sank 25 of 40 shots from the floor, mostly lay-ups.

“We didn't force them to try the 3's enough,” Clement said.”

Butler closes section play Friday, hosting Seneca Valley.

BUTLER 54

Luke Michalek 3-8 0-0 7, John Michalek 1-2 0-0 3, Mattix Clement 3-10 0-0 9, Tarik Taoufik 0-2 2-2 2, Luke Patten 3-5 0-0 8, Mason Montag 1-1 0-0 2, Ethan Morton 6-18 11-13 23, Dom Schmidt 0-0 0-0 0, Isaiah Scribner 0-0 0-0 0, Nick Stazer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-47 13-15 54.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 61

Maurice Shipman 3-5 4-6 11, Carlan Gray 0-0 0-0 0, Brian Dzuban 1-2 0-0 2, Brandon Boyce 2-2 2-5 6, Cole Mason 5-7 0-0 10, Luke Nedrow 7-10 1-2 15, Justin Tarrant 7-10 2-4 17, Tommy Farkos 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 25-40 9-17 61.

Butler 6 11 17 20 — 54

Central Catholic16 11 13 21 — 61

3-point goals: L.Michalek, J.Michalek, Clemwent 3, Patten 2; Shipman, Tarrant

JV: Central Catholic, 56-51 (B: Anthony Malloy 22, CC: Jack Cantanzarite 16

Friday: Seneca Valley at Butler