BUTLER TWP — Defense is always there.

The 1991 Butler boys basketball team proved as much while posting a 27-4 record and winning the WPIAL Class AAAA championship.

The Golden Tornado allowed an average of 46 points per game that season. The 27 wins remains a program record for one season.

“On nights we shot well, we beat teams 80-46. On nights we didn't shoot well, we'd beat them 60-46,” said Mark Jula, the team's head coach.

Jula will speak on behalf of that team Saturday as the squad will be inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame during the organization's annual banquet at 6 p.m. at the Butler Days Inn.

Butler hammered Bethel Park 64-26 in the WPIAL semifinals before defeating Hempfield, 79-54, in the WPIAL title game at the University of Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Field House.

“Bethel Park had a big scorer, a great athlete who went to North Carolina as a wide receiver,” Jula said. “I told Don Hilliard (Butler guard) that anytime that kid got the ball, he would probably score.

“Donnie guarded him and I think the kid touched the ball five times that night.”

Butler's starting five that season consisted of point guard Danny Heiman, guards Hilliard and Ron Zawrotuk, forwards Doug Brink and Chris Bellis.

“I wasn't a great basketball player, but one thing I could do was keep somebody else from getting the ball,” Hilliard said. “I always guarded the other team's biggest scorer.

“I was fast and strong and I could face-guard somebody. That's the reason I was on the floor. I wouldn't have played much if I didn't do those things.

“I remember Coach Jula telling us before the season started that our best defensive player was gonna be a starter. Those words stayed with me,” Hilliard added.

That 1991 team had plenty of depth. Mike Beichner started a few games at forward. Doug Brink was another big player. Aaron Sease, Jaron Hilovsky and Chris McMichael saw time off the bench.

Other players included Dave Wingfield, Matt Clement, Larry Garvin, Matt McClelland, Rich McClellan and Shawn Bellis. Bellis, who went on to hold the Tornado career scoring record for 25 years, was a freshman on that team.

“Coach Jula instilled so much confidence in us,” Bellis said. “Through 31 games, we never felt like we could lose. We were never intimidated by any situation.”

Hilovsky went on to become a 1,000-point scorer as well. Clement was a sophomore.

“That was a great group of guys to learn from,” Clement said. “They had such a tight bond and they played together.

“They showed the younger guys on the team how to play the game the right way. They played defense and did everything Coach Jula was demanding.”

Heiman scored 23 points and Chris Bellis 18 in the WPIAL title win over Hempfield. It was only the second WPIAL crown in Butler basketball history, the first coming in 1915.

The Tornado won three state tournament games — defeating Johnstown 50-45, Penn Hills 52-47 and Central Catholic 55-52 in overtime — before losing a 60-57 decision to Altoona in the Western Final.

“We had a bench-clearing brawl in that Hempfield game,” Hilliard recalled. “They had a great player in Leon Agnew who went on to play at West Virginia. Our big guys, Brink, (Chris) Bellis and Beichner were really frustrating him.

“There was a loose ball and Chris Bellis dove over top of Agnew to go after it. Chris was punched in the back of the head on the play and next thing you knew, both benches emptied.

“The bond we had was so tight. We still get together to reminisce. That game was televised and we'll put the tape on and watch it together,” Hilliard added.

Jula said the team's versatility triggered its success.

“Danny Heiman was a point guard who could hit three's from NBA length,” he said. “He averaged 18 points a game that year and hit something like 111 three-pointers.

“Zawrotuk could shoot from outside. We played three to five guys inside every game and they could score. Some guys were great rebounders. That team could beat you a lot of different ways.”

Pat McClellan was Jula's assistant coach. Chris Bellis, Clement and Hilliard all wound up coaching high school basketball.

“I wasn't surprised at all those guys got into coaching,” Jula said. “I used to run a camp and I'd make our seniors coach third and fourth-grade kids. They understood the game and I could see how the young kids took to them.”

Tickets for the banquet are $40 in advance and are available at Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, Butler Radio Network on Pillow St., Parker Appliance in Chicora, Snack n Pack in Butler and Saxonburg Drug. Tickets will be $45 at the door.