BUTLER TWP - The Butler varsity boys basketball team, which hasn't made the WPIAL playoffs in four years, got within a game last year and fell short.

"We had to win one of the last two and it didn't happen," third-year coach Joe Lewandowski said. "That just made these guys that much more hungry.

"After last season ended, I asked the guys when they wanted to start up again. To a man, they wanted to start the next day. I love that attitude," he added.

What the Tornado coach doesn't like is losing nine seniors. Tyrell Sales, Joel Rehm, Dan Andreassi, Bob Freshwater, Jon Galante, Calvin Littlejohn, Kyle Shaffer, Justin Ehrman and Adam Palace have all graduated.

The lone starters coming back are 6-foot-3 senior forward Nate Hartung and 6-foot senior guard Jerrod Markle.

Hartung averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game last season.

"Those two will be in the lineup," Lewandowski said. "They're seniors and they've been through the fires. They'll be leading the way."

Who else will be on the floor is anybody's guess. Matt Shockey, a 6-3 forward, is the only other senior on the squad and he didn't play last season.

The Golden Tornado have 11 juniors, including Noah Hartung, a 6-4 forward, and Adam Monday, a 5-8 guard, who saw limited varsity action off the bench."Noah will play every position on the court at some point," Lewandowski said. "He'll be everywhere, depending on what type of lineup we choose to use."We're going to have some versatility out there."Sean Lowry, a 6-4 sophomore forward, could see varsity time this season. Jade Burka, a 6-5 junior forward, provides more size inside."We have kids who can play," Lewandowski said. "It's just that everyone's so green right now. We have to sort things out and find out who can perform in game situations."Behind Markle at guard are Monday and a bevy of other juniors: Matt Celestin, Brandon Johnston, Nick Martini, Chris Anthony, Alan Jackson, Blake Anderson, Herb Klann and Corey Thompson."Some of these guys have been cut during tryouts in years past and they keep coming back," Lewandowski said. "That shows me resiliency and dedication."We're a team of no stars. But we can be an effective, productive team."Nate Hartung said Butler must get off to a quicker start in the won-loss department."It's taken us a while to get going in the past and I think we need a few wins early to boost our confidence, especially with so many young guys," he said."We haven't got experience, but this team has energy and we all get along together," Markle said. "We played together all summer and everyone already knows the sets. We're farther along that way than last year."Lewandowski said this year's team isn't as athletic as it was a year ago.Hartung agreed."You're not going to replace the athleticism of a Tyrell Sales," Hartung said. "But this junior class works hard. I'm impressed by how hard they work."Dick Hartung and Chris Andreassi return as assistant coaches."They're two of the best," Lewandowski said.The coach described Butler's section as "a bear.""It is what it is," he said. "New Castle, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Shaler - those programs are strong. If we want to make the playoffs - and we do - we have to play at that level."

2004-05 Boys ScheduleDec. 3-4-at Ambridge Tip-Off Tournament; Dec. 7-ALTOONA, 5:30 p.m.; Dec. 9-at Central Catholic, 6 p.m.; Dec. 11-CONNELLSVILLE, 1 p.m.; Dec. 14-PINE-RICHLAND, 6 p.m.; Dec. 17-NORTH ALLEGHENY, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 21-at Fox Chapel, 6 p.m.; Dec. 23-SHALER, 6 p.m.; Dec. 28-29-BUTLER CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENTJan. 4-at Seneca Valley, 6 p.m.; Jan. 7-NORTH HILLS, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 8-at Plum, 6 p.m.; Jan. 11-at New Castle, 5 p.m.; Jan. 14-at Pine-Richland, 3 p.m.; Jan. 18-at North Allegheny, 6 p.m.; Jan. 21-FOX CHAPEL, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 22-at Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25-at Shaler, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28-SENECA VALLEY, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 29-AMBRIDGE, 6 p.m.Feb. 1-at North Hills, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4-NEW CASTLE, 7:30 p.m.