CONNELLSVILLE — For the second consecutive Saturday, Butler left the floor in a foul mood after playing Connellsville.

The Golden Tornado boys basketball team had two more field goals than the Falcons here Saturday, but dropped a 67-52 decision.

"We out-goal them and lose by 15 … That's crazy," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said.

Butler (2-3) sank six of 15 free throws and was whistled for 29 personal fouls. Connellsville (4-1) sank 28 of 42 free throws and was whistled for 13 personal fouls.

"This is the first time I've had a team involved in a game this physical where we never got into the bonus," Lewandowski said. "That is unbelievable."

Connellsville did not pick up its seventh foul of the first half until less than a minute remained. Butler was never in the bonus during the second half.

Butler dropped a 66-54 decision to Connellsville a week ago at the Laurel Highlands Tournament. The Tornado shot 10 free throws in that game to the Falcons' 35.

Foul shooting had nothing to do with Butler's sluggish start this past Saturday, however.

Consecutive treys by Cody Fleeger and Blake Anderson gave the Tornado an 8-5 lead with 2:38 left in the first quarter. But the Falcons went on a 19-4 run at that point to open up a 24-12 lead with 2:30 left in the first half.

Connellsville never trailed again.

The run was fueled by Butler turnovers. Tyler DeCara stuck back an offensive rebound during a fast-break off transition, then sank a lay-up the same way as Butler turned the ball over at mid-court.

"We have a lot of big bodies out there, long arms that can disrupt passes," Connellsville caoch Nick Bosnic said. "Most of our starters are football players. They're athletic and they like to play aggressive."

Nearly half of Connellsville's 19 field goals were set up by Butler turnovers. The Tornado had 20 turnovers in the game.

"We have to make better decisions with the ball from the point guard position," Lewandowski said. "That's where the bulk of our turnovers are coming from.

"As a team, we didn't come out ready to play. I know it's tough after a long bus ride, but that's part of the maturation process for a young adult. Whether it's time to go to work or play a basketball game, you have to be mentally ready."

Butler fell behind by as many as 17 early in the third quarter, but pulled within 43-37 with 6:23 left in the game. Alan Jackson came off the bench to score four lay-ups — including a three-point play — during the second-half rally.

"We get a big lead and we get sloppy," Bosnic said. "That's been characteristic of this team. And Butler never quit playing.

"We regrouped and put the game away."

Terrence McCrae had nine of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter for Connellsville. Joe Leonard added 17 points, Clay Hurley 11 points and six of the Falcons' 30 rebounds. DeCara scored 11 points off the bench.

Jackson scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, had four assists and four steals for the Tornado. Jade Burka added 13 points and seven of 32 Butler rebounds despite playing in foul trouble all day.

Four Butler players — Burka, Fleeger, Nick Martini and Adam Monday — eventually fouled out.

"Alan Jackson does a lot of things for us out there," Lewandowski said. "It doesn't really matter who starts the game for us. It's all about who's playing well out there."

Butler has three home games this week — tonight against Plum, Wednesday vs. Woodland Hills and Friday against Pine-Richland in the section opener.

BUTLER 52

Herb Klann 0-1 0-0 0, Nick Rossmiller 0-1 0-0 0, Cody Fleeger 2-4 0-0 5, Nick Martini 1-4 0-0 3, Adam Monday 2-8 0-0 4, Alan Jackson 6-9 4-6 16, Blake Anderson 3-8 0-0 8, Brian Deangilis 0-1 0-0 0, Jade Burka 6-9 1-5 13, Aaron Dorondo 0-1 0-0 0, Mike Pratkanis 1-3 1-4 3. Totals: 21-49 6-15 52

CONNELLSVILLE 67

Lance Straughters 2-5 3-4 7, Tyler DeCara 4-6 3-4 11, John Dilworth 0-2 0-0 0, Joe Leonard 6-14 4-6 17, Clay Hurley 2-4 7-9 11, Terrence McCrae 5-8 11-19 21. Totals: 19-39 28-42 67

3-point goals:

Fleeger, Martini, Anderson 2; :Leonard

JV:

Butler, 54-38

Today:

Plum @ Butler