BUTLER TWP — The score was tied four times in the second half, the last time at 52 with 6:47 remaining.

But Butler’s stars were shining — and shined brightest down the stretch in leading the Golden Tornado to a 75-66 boys basketball victory over Eden Christian in the Butler gym Wednesday night.

Madden Clement and Braylon Littlejohn are the two players on Butler’s roster with ample varsity experience. Clement struck for a career-high 33 points — sinking six treys — while adding three steals and three assists. Littlejohn tallied 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

“Both of those guys were outstanding,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “I didn’t do a good enough job of getting Donovan (Carney) involved offensively early. Madden and Braylon really picked us up.”

Neither team had a double-digit lead until the latter stages of the fourth quarter. The lead changed hands four times. When David Ryan sank his third trey of the fourth period, the visiting Warriors knotted the game at 52.

Littlejohn responded by sinking a pair of free throws. Clement drove in for a layup and sank a trey, giving the Tornado a 59-52 edge with 4:22 remaining. After a three-point play by Nathan Garrett trimmed the margin to four, Clement hit another 3-pinter. A trey from the corner by Colin Casteel, a steal and layup by Littlejohn jumped Butler’s lead to 67-57 with less than three minutes left.

The Warriors (0-1) never got closer than six the rest of the way.

“I’ve never had chemistry with another player like I do with Braylon,” Madden Clement said. “He’s a tremendous teammate who does so many things for us.”

Clement struck for 33 points only four days after going 1-for-10 from the floor against Avonworth.

“He had to take a lesson from (older brother) Mattix there and forget about your last shot,” Coach Clement said. “I’m proud of the way he bounced back.”

“Even when my shots were off the other day, my teammates kept encouraging me to shoot,” Madden said. “It’s nice knowing they have my back.”

Casteel had six rebounds. Butler sank 19 of 20 free throws, Eden Christian seven of 13.

“Those are important numbers in a nine-point game like this,” Coach Clement said,

While Butler improved to 3-0 on the year, Eden Christian played its season opener. It was the first game as a high school; basketball head coach for former Pittsburgh Steeler defensive end Aaron Smith.

Smith had been an assistant coach at Eden Christian and North Allegheny.

“We came out and competed,” Smith said “It was good to see that. This was a tough first game. Once Madden got into his rhythm offensively, he was tough to stop. I knew we were in for a hard time.

“He does a good job of using his body to post up and keep defenders off him. Coaching at North Allegheny, I’ve seen Butler shooters go off before.”

Ryan Merrick led the Warriors with 16 points and nine rebounds. Garrett scored 14 points, Ryan 10. All of Ryan’s points were scored in the fourth quarter.

This is Eden Christian’s first year in Class 2A. It was a 1A program last year.

“I knew they’d be good and I knew they’d give us a challenge,” Coach Clement said. “This was the second straight game we had to find a way to win in the fourth quarter. That’s good for us.”

His son agreed.

“Games like this get us ready for section, because we’ll be involved in close ones there,” Madden said.

EDEN CHRISTIAN 66

Nathan Garrett 6-10 1-1 14, Noah Elias 2-2 2-3 6, Ryan Merrick 8-11 0-2 16, Sean Aiken 1-2 2-2 4, Malachi Manges 4-13 0-0 8, David Ryan 3-6 1-2 10, Luke Gronbeck 2-6 0-1 5, Grayson Reichart 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Rice 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 27-52 7-13 66.

BUTLER 75

Braylon Littlejohn 6-10 9-9 22, Donovan Carney 1-10 1-2 3, Ayden Davis 1-4 2-2 4, Madden Clement 10-16 7-7 33, Mac Schnur 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Porch 0-1 0-0 0, Tayt Lucas 1-3 0-0 2, Colin Casteel 2-5 0-0 6, James Desmond 2-4 0-0 5, Lance Slater 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-53 19-20 75.

Eden Christian 14 19 16 17 — 66

Butler 20 14 18 23 — 75

3-point goals: Eden Christian 5 (Garrett, Ryan 3, Gronbeck); Butler 10 (Littlejohn, Clement 6, Casteel 2, Desmond)

JV: Butler, 53-42 (EC: Ben Rice 15, Grayson Reichart 12; B: Grayden Brown 16, Coleton Welter 10)

Friday: Kiski Area at Butler