Hot Shots
BUTLER TWP — Teams can get hot shooting the basketball.
Butler's shooters were downright scorching in Saturday night's 86-78 boys basketball victory over Erie.
Through three quarters, the Golden Tornado (4-3) sank 22 of 30 shots from the field, including nine 3-pointers. They sank 12 treys on the night.
“We were coming up on their shooters ... they kept moving back and were still hitting 'em,” Erie coach Tom Koval said. “What are you gonna do?”
When the Royals (3-2) fouled to try to get back in the game, the Tornado sank nine of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter. For the game, Butler sank 18 of 20 foul shots.
“We're capable of something like this,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “We weren't sinking three's right at the arc. We were a few steps behind it.
“We've got shooters and they were on tonight.”
Devin Carney scored a career-high 39 points for Butler, adding three steals defensively. Mattix Clement had 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Younger brother Madden Clement contributed 15 points on five treys.
Madden started his second straight game as Butler continues to play without injured point guard Raine Gratzmiller and center Charlie Kreinbucher. Both are sidelined indefinitely.“Madden can hit from out there,” Mattix said. “His offense meant a lot tonight. It's going to help us with Raine and Charlie not playing right now.”Carney welcomed the additional scoring source as well.“We've got shooters,” Carney said. “It's up to us (ball handlers) to find the open man.”Coach Clement said: “No one can guard Devin one-on-one. If they choose to take away our shooters and try that, Devin's gonna go. If not, guys are going to be open who can knock down shots.“With our injuries, this is who we are right now. Our ability to score is a big part of our game.”Erie can score as well and stayed with Butler for a while. The score was tied three times in the second quarter. A pair of Carney free throws with 10 seconds left and an offensive rebound and stick-back by Mattix Clement at the buzzer gave the Tornado a 43-37 lead at intermission.A 9-0 run midway through the third quarter — highlighted by a Madden Clement trey and David Leslie layup — gave Butler a 57-45 lead. A Colin Patterson trey hiked the lead to 14 (62-48) entering the fourth.A pair of offensive rebounds and stick-backs by 6-foot-4 forward Jamie Smith pulled the Royals within 76-71 with 1:55 to play. The Tornado iced the game at the line as Carney sank four free throws and Leslie two in the final 49 seconds.Smith came off the bench to score 27 points and grab 13 rebounds for the Royals. Marquell Darnell had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench as well.“Three of our starters showed up late for a practice this week. We had to show them you can't do that,” Koval said. “They came in and played hard.“We just didn't make enough plays to win.”Steven Scheppner scored 12 points and Marcell Banks had 11 points and five assists for the Royals. Erie had a 30-20 edge in rebounding, but sank only five of 13 free throws.“They have athletes all over the place,” Coach Clement said. “Our guys scrapped with them on the boards, boxed out ... sometimes, they just reached over us and rebounded anyway. But I loved our effort.”The Tornado travel to Norwin for a non-section game Tuesday night.“Can we keep shooting like this? I think we can,” Carney said. “It's on the guys we have to keep playing at a high level.”<b>ERIE 78</b>Marcell Banks 15-9 0-0 11, Javontea Vera 2-5 0-0 4, Tarrel Petty 3-3 0-2 6, Stephen Scheppner 4-12 0-0 12, Tayja Carr 0-2 0-0 0, Jahiem Woodward 1-7 1-2 3, Marquell Darnell 7-8 1-2 15, Jamie Smith 12-16 3-7 27. Totals: 34-62 5-13 78.<b>BUTLER 86</b>Devin Carney 12-18 14-14 39, Logan Koegler 0-0 0-0 0, Mattix Clement 8-14 1-2 20, Jordan Stutz 0-0 0-0 0, Colin Patterson 1-3 0-0 3, Madden Clement 5-8 0-0 15, David Leslie 2-2 2-2 7, Kaleb Proudfoot 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 28-45 18-20 86.Erie 16 21 11 30 — 78Butler19 24 19 24 — 863-point goals: Banks, Scheppner 4; Carney 2, Mat.Clement 3, Patterson, Mad.Clement 5, LeslieJV: Erie, 46-42 (E: Gore Layuzon 16, Rashad Williams 10; B: Mac Schnur 14)Tuesday: Butler at Norwin
