FOX CHAPEL — Allowing 17 points in less than six minutes to begin a game is not Butler basketball.

Matt Clement knew it. So did his team.

The Golden Tornado made amends in the second half, using a 21-0 run to run away from Fox Chapel, 76-54, in boys hoop action Saturday night.

The 76 points marked a season-high for the Tornado.

Butler (16-3, 8-3) trailed 19-13 after one quarter before taking a 32-30 lead into halftime. The lead changed hands 11 times before the Tornado run put the game away.

"We messed up in the first half and the kids knew it," Butler coach Clement said. "I challenged them at halftime to put together a half of Butler defense.

"The majority of that run came off our defense. It's hard to run the floor when the other team is making buckets and that's what they (Fox Chapel) were doing in the first half. It's much easier to run after a turnover or missed shot."

Senior guard Brett Goldstein was making most of the Foxes' (8-11) shots in the first half. He scored 18 points, including four treys, in the first two quarters.

He attempted only two shots and was shut out in the second half.

"Nobody gets shots when you're turning the ball over," Fox Chapel coach Zach Skrinjar said. "That and we did a poor job of setting up our offense in the second half.

"Butler is a very good team, too. You have to factor that in."

The Tornado led 41-40 with 3:07 left in the third quarter. With 6:13 left in the game, that lead was 62-40.

The Foxes suffered 10 of their 19 turnovers in the third period.

Nate Snodgrass had a pair of steals and layups the other way during the 21-0 run. Cody Herald drained a trey, Jeff Tompkins converted a three-point play, Brian Jendesky had a steal and layup during the surge.

"That was a 10-man defense we had out there," Clement said. "Everybody we put on the floor was buying into it."

Fox Chapel never got closer than 18 after the Tornado run ended.

"We used a lot more players today than we normally do because we have a critical game Monday," Skrinjar said. "Our regular rotation was off and Butler did a great job of exploiting that.

"They're already in the playoffs. We're trying to get there. Our teams were in different situations today."

Fox Chapel plays at Franklin Regional tonight, needing a win and some help to secure the final playoff berth in Section 2-AAAA.

A Butler win at Central Catholic tonight would result in a three-way tie for the Section 3-AAAA title if Seneca Valley knocks off North Allegheny.

"This is the fun time of year," Clement said. "We have our toughest challenge of the regular season Monday, then get ready for a playoff game. This is why you play. This is why I wanted this job."

Bobby Swartwout had 16 points and five rebounds for Butler. Snodgrass had 12 points, four assists and four steals. Herald added 10 points.

Goldstein had 18 points and five rebounds for Fox Chapel with Jake Wilfong netting 12 points.

BUTLER 76Cole Harvey 0-0 0-2 0, Nate Snodgrasss 5-6 1-2 12, Eli Christy 2-3 0-0 4, Logan Renwick 1-4 0-0 2, Brian Jendesky 2-3 3-3 7, Cody Herald 2-6 4-4 10, Jeff Tompkins 2-6 1-1 5, Vinny Schmidt 3-10 1-1 8, David Tompkins 2-2 2-2 6, Bobby Swartwout 7-9 0-0 16, Cam Gronostaj 0-0 0-0 0, Cody West 0-0 2-2 2, Bill Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Slater 2-2 0-0 4, Jake Hilliard 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 28-51 14-17 76.

FOX CHAPEL 54Brett Goldstein 7-14 0-0 18, Ben Mawhinney 1-3 0-0 2, Jake Wilfong 5-11 1-2 12, Brendan Duquette 4-7 1-2 9, Randy Mallinger 0-2 0-0 0, JT Healy 0-0 2-2 2, Mickey Jacobs 2-4 0-0 5, Matt Roman 1-1 2-2 4, Sean Mawhinney 0-0 0-0 0, Tom Aaak 0-0 0-1 0, Tyler Bianco 1-1 0-0 2.

Totals: 21-43 6-9 54.

Butler 13 19 23 21—76Fox Chapel 19 11 10 14—543-point goals: Butler 6 (Snodgrass, Herald 2, Schmidt, Swartwout 2); Fox Chapel 6 (Goldstein 4, Wilfong, Jacobs).

Junior varsity: Butler, 47-41 (B: Cody West 12, David Tompkins 11; FC: Matt Roman 19, Tyler Bianco 11)

Monday: Butler at Central Catholic