UNIONTOWN — If Joe Lewandowski was hoping for a performance to build on, he got it.

Better yet, he got a win to go with it.

The Butler boys basketball coach watched his team limit Albert Gallatin to a 24-percent shooting performance (11-of-45) from the field as the Golden Tornado opened the season with a 51-36 victory in the Laurel Highlands Shootout Friday night.

"We were concerned with their size coming in," Lewandowski said, referring to Albert Gallatin's 6-foot-8 junior forward Jawaan Alston. "But Cody Fleeger took on the responsibility to guard him, and we received a great team effort to shut him down."

Alston scored just eight points in the game, including only two field goals, and never was able to get into a rhythm.

"We lost 90 percent of our offense from last year's playoff team," said Colonials coach Dan Andria. "We had three kids coming back who we felt could score most of our points. One kid got injured, another one quit and that left just Jawaan."

Butler never trailed after opening the game with a 5-0 run.

The Colonials made a late push, scoring seven straight points to cut Butler's advantage to 45-36 with 3:17 left in the game.

"We had a few lapses on defense there in the second half which (Albert Gallatin) was able to score off of," said Lewandowski. "But other than that, I thought it was a solid defensive effort for being our first game."

Butler received a double double from senior Jade Burka, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Also scoring in double figures for the Golden Tornado (1-0) were Blake Anderson with 13 points and Nick Martini with 16, including four 3-pointers.

Butler led 30-21 at halftime. The Colonials proceeded to miss their first 10 shots from the field in the second half, as Butler built its lead to 38-21 with three minutes left in the third period.

"That was the back breaker right there," said Andria. "We come out and can't score for (five) minutes. It was the turning point in the game.

"Butler played well defensively," Andria added. "But we are what we are, and that is an inexperienced team that's going to struggle offensively all year long."

Jawaan Alston was the Colonials' only hope and it showed. His teammates continually tried to get him the ball, even when it was apparent Butler was taking him out of the game.

On three of their first four possessions in the second quarter, the Colonials attempted to feed Alston in the post. But all three times, the tallest player on the floor was stymied by Fleeger on one side and Burka on the other.

The result was a turnover on all three possessions, helping Butler to build a 26-18 advantage with four minutes left in the half.

Adding insult to injury, Alston fouled out with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter. He was held scoreless in the second half.

Senior Justin King led the Colonials (0-1) with 10 points.

The game proved to be a huge building block for Butler.

"We got some great bench play from Mike Pratkanis, Aaron Dorondo, Chris Anthony and Brian DeAngelis," said Lewandowski. "Every year, I let the team pick a motto, and this season, the guys chose, 'Play hard, no excuses.'

"And we played hard, that's the No. 1 thing."

BUTLER 51Blake Anderson 3 6-7 13, Jade Burka 5 0-1 10, Adam Monday 1 1-2 4, Cody Fleeger 2 3-4 8, Nick Martini 6 0-0 16, Mike Pratkanis 0 0-0 0, Aaron Dorondo 0 0-0 0, Chris Anthony 0 0-0 0, Brian DeAngelis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 10-14 51.

ALBERT GALLATIN 36Logan Howard 0 2-2 2, Jake Magerko 3 0-0 8, Justin Alston 0 1-4 1, Anthony Stevenson 2 0-0 4, Ricky Knox 0 2-2 2, Jawaan Alston 2 4-6 8, Justin King 4 0-0 10, Aaron Cromwell 0 1-2 1. Totals: 11 10-16 36.

3-point goals: B: Martini 4, Fleeger, Monday, Anderson; AG: King 2, Magerko 2

Saturday: Butler vs. Connellsville at Laurel Highlands Shootout, 2 p.m.