BUTLER TWP — No trap game here.

Butler jumped out to a 22-7 lead in the first quarter Tuesday night and never let the lead get out of double digits in posting a 66-45 boys basketball victory over Baldwin.

The nonsection contest fell between games against section unbeatens North Allegheny and Central Catholic. The latter comes to town Friday night.

"That's all I kept hearing from people: about the big game coming up on Friday," Butler coach Matt Clement said. "I guess this could have been a trap game for us. You always have to be on guard for those.

"We went to work on dispelling that notion as soon as the junior varsity game was over."

The Golden Tornado (11-0, 4-0) had a 7-0 lead 90 seconds into the game. The margin was 18-4 five minutes into the contest.

"When our intensity goes away, we go away," guard Cody Herald said. "It doesn't matter who's on the floor for us. The intensity has to stay out there."

Baldwin (5-5) outscored the Tornado 10-6 in the second quarter, slowing the pace down a bit.

"They came out and played harder than we did early," Baldwin coach Kyle DeGregorio said. "They were beating us off the dribble, getting to all the loose balls, pounding us on the boards.

"I thought we got our legs in the second quarter, weathered the storm and got back in the game," he added. "Then the same thing happened to start the third quarter that happened in the first."

Butler used a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the third period to assume a 40-19 lead and end the competitive portion of the game. The Tornado's biggest lead was 26 at 54-28 with 5:57 left in the contest.

"The start of the third quarter was going to be critical," Clement said. "If we step on the pedal from the outset, we put the game away. If they win the first four minutes, we're in for a dogfight the rest of the night.

"Intensity is what fuels us. You let up against a well-coached team like Baldwin, they'll beat you."

Herald jump-started Butler in both halves. He sank a 3-pointer and two free throws 25 seconds apart to help build the 7-0 advantage early. He canned a trey at the start of the third quarter, assisted on a Logan Renwick layup and drained a baseline jumper while the Tornado enjoyed their third-quarter surge.

"This was the best offensive game Cody Herald has played," Clement said. "He and Vinny (Schmidt) were the stars tonight, but everybody is playing hard."

Herald scored 14 points and had two assists for the Tornado while Schmidt added 11 points and six rebounds. Bobby Swartwout had eight points and six boards.

"Butler's had some good talent come through their system the past couple of years," DeGregorio said. "Now Matt Clement has them playing harder than they've ever played."

Tom Murphy paced Baldwin with nine points.

The Tornado host Central Catholic at 8 p.m. Friday, following the Butler-Moon girls varsity game. There are no junior varsity games Friday.

"North Allegheny and Central Catholic were picked to win the section this year," Clement said. "We're still clawing for every ounce of respect we can get. That's the way it's going to be this year."

BALDWIN 45Robbie Zewe 2-7 0-0 6, Matt Costantino 1-2 0-0 2, Larry Wallace 2-9 0-2 5, Tom Murphy 3-16 3-4 9, Tim Douglass 0-0 0-0 0, Phil Einwag 3-6 2-2 8, Tyler Szymanski 0-2 0-0 0, Charlie Wallander 3-4 0-1 6, David Graham 3-4 1-1 7.

Totals: 18-52 6-10 45.

BUTLER 66Cole Harvey 1-2 1-2 3, Nate Snodgrass 1-3 0-0 3, Eli Christy 0-4 0-0 0, Logan Renwick 1-3 0-0 2, Brian Jendesky 3-3 4-5 10, Cody Herald 5-6 2-3 14, Jeff Tompkins 2-3 0-0 4, Vinny Schmidt 4-7 2-2 11, David Tompkins 1-2 0-0 2, Bobby Swartwout 4-6 0-0 8, Zach Slater 3-4 0-0 7, William Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Cam Gronostaj 0-0 2-2 2.

Totals: 25-43 11-16 66.

Baldwin 7 10 8 20—45Butler 22 6 20 18—663-point goals: Baldwin 3 (Zewe 2, Wallace); Butler 5 (Snodgrass, Herald 2, Schmidt, Slater).

Junior varsity: Baldwin, 49-46 (B: Zach Slater 13, Cody West 10; BA: Tyler Szymanski 15, Nate Dawson 10)

Friday: Central Catholic at Butler, 8 p.m.