Morton's Moment
BUTLER TWP — Matt Clement was a teammate of Shawn Bellis, Butler boys basketball's previous career points record holder.
Clement coaches junior guard Ethan Morton, the program's new record holder.
He has endless respect for both.
“Ethan took maybe seven shots a game his freshman year, playing with a bunch of seniors who were pretty successful before he even got here,” Clement said.
“Shawn didn't play much at all as a freshman. He got a few points at the end of games, that was about it.”
Both exploded into the record books after their initial seasons. Bellis set the Golden Tornado scoring record of 1,466 points in 1994. Morton broke it Friday night, scoring 19 points, grabbing nine rebounds and adding nine assists in Butler's 77-60 non-section home win over Obama Academy.
Morton has scored 1,484 points with one regular season game — and playoffs — remaining in his junior campaign.
“It's fitting to see Ethan get the reord on a night of a near triple-double, because that's who he is,” Clement said.
The coach couldn't help but reflect on Bellis' career as well.
“People have to realize how tremendous a player Shawn Bellis was,” he said. “He was probably the best slasher to the hoop to ever play here.
“He could do it all ... play down on the blocks, drive, hit the 3 ... and if he was a high school player now, the way the game is played today, that record would be around 1,800 points.”
No one appreciates Butler basketball history more than Morton himself.
“I remember myself as a little kid, going to games and watching Vinnie Schmidt, Cody Herald and those guys play. They were like gods to me,” Morton said. “Watching Bobby Swartwout, Nate Snodgrass ... I couldn't wait to get out on that court and play in front of this community that loves basketball so much.
“I get emotional just thinking about all those guys and about how great Shawn Bellis was,” Morton added.
As for spending his freshman season playing on a team with 10 seniors, Morton said: “I couldn't have broken in under any better circumstance.”
Morton needed just two points Friday to break the record. He got them with 3:08 left in the first quarter, netting a layup off an assist from Isaiah Scribner for a 4-3 Butler lead.
Butler (16-4) closed that quarter with three treys — one each from Luke Patten, Devin Carney and Morton — to take a 15-7 lead into the second period. Morton's trey came at the buzzer.
The Tornado never trailed again in winning for the seventh time in eight games. Their lead peaked at 64-39 on a Mattix Clement trey with 4:21 remaining.
The Eagles (8-9) suddenly sank a bundle of treys to pull within 65-55 with 2:29 still on the clock. That's as close as Obama Academy would get.
“I told our guys they (Eagles) were coming up here to win,” Clement said. “They don't quit and they are well-coached.
“With a big lead, we wanted them to take those deep, fadeaway three's, but they started hitting 'em.”
Butler placed four players in double figures. Carney had 18 points, Mattix Clement 16 points, three assists and three steals, Patten 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
But this night was about Morton.
“I knew he'd be good just by how hard he worked,” said Mattix Clement, who came through Butler's youth and junior high system with Morton. “He's always been about team. It's been special knowing him all my life.”
Morton said Butler's team “can be special” when four players reach double digits in games.“We can be better than this,” he said. “I could score 25 or 30, Luke could hit for 15 to 18, Mattix, Mason and Devin do their thing.“We know we can be better. I love the assists more than the points. It's gerting people involved.”Coach Clement remembered Morton's freshman season.“He did more than get all those seniors to acncept him. He got them to like him,” the coach said. “That's because of the person he is. That's why all of these colleges want him.“They don't just want the points, the passing, the basketball IQ — they want the person. I remember, as a freshman, Ethan telling me we had to get Tyler (Frederick) his 1,000 points. What 14 or 15-year-old kid thinks like that?”Dashon Cruz led Obama Academy with 26 points. He added six rebounds and five assists. No other Eagle scored in double figures.Obama scored 43 points in the second half, only 17 in the first two quarters.“Our (Butler) offense wasn't in rhythm in the first quarter,” Morton said. “But we eventually got rolling.”The Tornado sank 11 treys on the night. Mattix Clement and Carney combined for seven of them.Butler closes the regular season Monday night, hosting Hampton.OBAMA ACADEMY 60Dashon Cruz 10-16 2-4 26, D'Shaun Thomas 3-12 1-2 7, Zion Harrios 3-5 0-0 9, Nate Blessit 1-2 0-0 2, Quiincy Graham 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Myers 1-4 0-0 3, Angelo Myerrs 0-0 0-0 0, Tim Latham 1-3 0-3 2, Earl Thomas 2-6 2-2 6, Sean Snead 2-4 1-2 5. Totals: 23-53 6-14 60.BUTLER 77Devin Carney 6-13 3-4 18, Colby Anderson 0-1 0-0 0, Mattix Clement 6-17 0-0 16, Luke Patten 4-11 2-4 11, Charlie Kreinbucher 0-2 3-4 3, Mason Montag 3-7 0-0 8, Ethan Morton 6-9 6-7 19, Isaiah Scribner 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 26-61 14-20 77.Obama Academy 7 10 20 23 — 60Butler15 18 20 24 — 773-point goals: Cruz 4, Harris 3, Myers; Carney 3, Clement 4, Patten, Montag 2, MortonJV: Butler, 51-43 (B: Raine Gratzmiller 21)Monday: Hampton at Butler
