JACKSON TWP — Braylon Littlejohn led Butler in scoring during the Golden Tornado’s Section 1-6A boys basketball opener Tuesday night at Seneca Valley.

It was the two points he didn’t allow that were the biggest.

With Butler (9-1) clinging to a two-point lead in the closing seconds, Littlejohn leaped to block a seemingly open layup in the paint, Madden Clement securing the loose ball while getting fouled with 3.9 seconds to play.

Clement drained both free throws and the Tornado escaped with a 53-49 victory. Neither team ever held a double-digit lead and the lead changed hands on six consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter.

“A four-quarter scrap is exactly what this was,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “(SV’s) Kevin Trost is an excellent coach and we knew he was going to have his team play physical against us. I thought we stood up to it pretty well.”

The Raiders’ (2-6) biggest lead of the night was 27-19 late in the second quarter. Butler never led by more than two until midway through the fourth period.

The lead changed hands for the last time on a Littlejohn layup — giving the Tornado a 45-44 edge — with 4:08 left. A Ryan Porch layup and Donovan Carney trey gave Butler its biggest lead of the evening at 50-44 with 2:14 to play.

But the Raiders weren’t done.

Tyler Pepin drained a trey wit 1:56 left. After the Tornado missed the front end of a one-and-one, Pepin canned a short jumper to pull SV within 50-49. Colin Casteel was fouled with 18 seconds left and sank one free throw.

That set up Littlejohn’s heroics.

“We almost got a steal when I was moving away from the basket, guarding Luke Lawson,” Littlejohn said. “They had a guy come in free for a layup and I just jumped at it as high as I could.”

“Big-time players make big-time plays ... and that was a big-time play,” Clement said.

Madden Clement sealed the deal at the free throw line — though he said there was no pressure on those shots.

“I felt like we had the game won when I stepped to the line,” Madden said. “Why put pressure on myself? Even if I missed, they were gonna have to race down just to get off a shot.

“I treated those shots like any other free throw.”

Trost could not be reached for comment after the game. Seneca Valley’s six losses this season are by a combined total of 22 points. Four of those losses are by four points or fewer.

Littlejohn led Butler with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Carney had 15 points and four rebounds, Casteel nine points and three boards.

Seneca Valley held a 34-22 edge on the boards.

“That’s the first time we’ve been out-rebounded all season,” Coach Clement said. “Still, I thought we attacked the boards well. We can do so many things offensively. They did a good job taking away Madden’s outside shot and Braylon driving to the hoop, but that left Donovan open and Ryan Porch was able to get to the basket.”

Seneca Valley center Andrew Roy was ejected due to a flagrant foul in the third quarter. Another starter, Kai West, fouled out with 18 seconds left. The Raiders hung in the game regardless.

Pepin had 13 points and seven rebounds, Lawson 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, Connor Oros 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Raiders.

“It’s hard to tire out an all-state soccer player like Oros, but every player left this court tired tonight,” Coach Clement said. “Both teams played hard. It was a great game.”

BUTLER 53

Braylon Littlejohn 4-8 7-8 16, Donovan Carney 5-14 2-2 15, Ayden Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Madden Clement 2-5 2-2 7, Mac Schnur 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Porch 3-7 0-2 6, Tayt Lucas 0-0 0-0 0, Colin Casteel 2-7 3-5 9. Totals: 16-45 14-19 53.

SENECA VALLEY 49

Aiden Lyczek 0-0 2-2 2, Andrew Roy 2-3 0-1 4, Connor Oros 4-8 0-0 10, Luke Lawson 6-15 0-0 13, Tyler Pepin 5-10 2-2 13, Kai West 1-5 4-4 7. Totals: 18-42 8-9 49.

Butler 11 10 15 17 — 53

Seneca Valley 13 14 10 12 — 49

3-point goals: Butler 7 (Littlejohn, Carney 3, Casteel 2), Seneca Valley 5 (Oros 2, Lawson, Pepin, West)

JV: Butler 73, Seneca Valley 69, OT (B: Tayt Lucas 26, Coleton Welter 16, Kyle Casteel 12; SV: Andrew Omasits 18, Adam Gehm 14, Esheza Okponobi 14, Ryan Priester 11, Owen Longdon 10)

Friday: New Castle at Butler, Seneca Valley at Central Catholic