Butler boys basketball overcomes sloppy start to beat Bishop Canevin ahead of WPIAL section play
BUTLER TWP — Valuing possessions is a common theme when it comes to winning basketball games, but it seemed Butler’s boys needed to be reminded of it at halftime Monday night.
Despite leading Bishop Canevin 32-26 at the break, the Golden Tornado had turned the ball over 16 times.
“It was like we were saying, ‘Here, take the ball,’” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “It’s not like they were running some kind of intricate trap against us.”
“It was simple man-to-man with a bit of press,” senior guard Andrew Gettinger. “The turnovers were self-inflicted.”
Butler cleaned up its act in the second half, turning the ball over just five times, and pulled away in a 69-53 non-section victory at Butler High School.
“We have different personnel this year, and it takes time for guys to learn where they need to be on certain plays,” Clement said.
The Tornado’s top two scorers — Gettinger and Stainton Forbes — led the way with 23 and 25 points, respectively, but others stepped up to help the Tornado move their record to 2-1.
Tobias Geibel came off the bench to drain a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, and Jaydon Wilbert hit another. Cael Hanley’s trey pushed Butler’s lead to 42-30 with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Butler received 21 combined points outside of their two big guns.
“We want those guys to score between 20 and 25 points per game,” Clement said. “They’re not all getting consistent minutes from game to game, so it’s going to be different guys, but they’re playing well.”
Gettinger’s baseline drive and dunk put the hosts up 52-32 late in the third. He also paced Butler with 15 rebounds. Controlling the glass was one thing the Tornado did well all game. It was a 24-8 edge on the boards in the first half that helped them maintain a lead despite the turnover troubles.
Forbes added nine rebounds and Jace Gratzmiller seven and a team-leading five assists.
Drew Allen paced a trio of Canevin players scoring in double figures with 16 points.
The Crusaders (2-3), a Class 3A team, finished fourth in the WPIAL last year and reached the state playoffs.
Butler will dive into WPIAL Section 1-6A play Friday when it travels to North Allegheny.
“They have a new coach, Rob Niederberger,” Clement said. “He’s been around for a while, but this is his first year at NA. When a coach takes over a program, he can bring a new energy. When you’re with a school for as long as I’ve been at Butler (17 seasons), you have to find different ways to energize the kids.”
BISHOP CANEVIN 53
Drew Allen 6 2-2 16, Hakeem Hawkins 4 0-0 10, Daemar Olds 3 0-0 8, Jackson Maddix 5 3-4 15, Lamont Goodwine 2 0-0 4, Jahlil Benton 0 0-0 0, Austin Wang 0 0-0 0, Makhi Craig 0 0-0 0, Christian Cox 0 0-0 0, Vaughn James 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 5-6 53.
BUTLER 69
Cael Hanley 1 2-2 5, Jace Gratzmiller 1 1-2 3, Stainton Forbes 10 3-4 25, Mavrik Clement 1 1-2 3, Andrew Gettinger 11 0-0 23, Jaydon Wilbert 1 0-0 3, Tobias Geibel 2 0-1 6, Xavier Lowry 0 1-2 1, Boden Lenyk 0 0-0 0, Max Byers 0 0-0 0, Edan Singer 0 0-0 0, Zavyr Gregory 0 0-0 0, Joseph Porneluzi 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 8-13 69.
3-point goals: Bishop Canevin 8 (Allen 2, Hawkins 2, Olds 2, Maddix 2); Butler 7 (Forbes 2, Geibel 2, Wilbert, Gettinger, Hanley).
Friday: Butler at North Allegheny
-
Butler’s Andrew Gettinger (35) shoots over a Bishop Canevin defender during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Boden Lenyk (13) looks for an opening to pass in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Stainton Forbes (4) drives to the rim to score during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Mavrik Clement (5) brings the ball up the court during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Tobias Geibel (0) passes the ball in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Jace Gratzmiller (3) makes a pass in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Stainton Forbes (4) drives to the rim to score during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Stainton Forbes’ parents Sarah Peart-Forbes and Wayne Forbes celebrate in the stands after Butler scores in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Stainton Forbes (4) and Jaydon Wilbert (2) battle a Bishop Canevin defender for possession during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Jace Gratzmiller (3) goes up for a layup over a Bishop Canevin defender during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler’s Jace Gratzmiller (3) keeps the ball away from a Bishop Canevin defender during a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
-
Butler defeated Bishop Canevin 69-53 in a boys basketball game on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
