Central Catholic earns section title
Vikings keep cool to fend off Butler in fourth quarter
Central Catholic’s legs were wobbling like an old card table. The Vikings’ nice lead through the first three quarters suddenly was gone. Butler had scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull even for the first time since the first minute, and the large Butler student section inside a packed Alumni Hall roared.
Central Catholic responded with sturdiness, poise — and then a section title.
After Butler pulled even, Central Catholic pulled together and went on to defeat visiting Butler, 61-54 in a WPIAL Class 6A Section 1 game. The win gave Central Catholic (12-7 overall, 10-2 in section) the section title, only one year after missing the playoffs for the second time in the previous three seasons. This Central Catholic rejuvenation season handed the 16th section title to Chuck Crummie, the seventh-winningest coach in WPIAL history.
Butler, hoping to win a section title for the first time since 1992, is 8-3 in the section and can finish no higher than a tie for second.
“We thought we had a nice group coming back this season,” Crummie said. “Not many people knew that much about us before the season, but that’s OK. I’ve been there before.”
The play of a few seniors helped hold off Butler’s charge. Senior forward Justin Tarrant, who tied a career high with 17 points, scored off a rebound to give Central Catholic the lead for good, 44-42. Senior Cole Mason scored an inside basket and senior Luke Nedrow added a free throw to put Central Catholic in front by five.
Nedrow, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, added 15 points for Central Catholic.
“We played well in the first half, but then we got a little nervous in the second half,” Crummie said. “But after they made that run and tied it up, I think we just kind of refocused. That’s sort of been our M.O. this year. We get a little nervous for no reason.”
Freshman Mattix Clement, son of Butler coach Matt Clement, hit two 3pointers and Luke Michalek scored off a steal to tie the score with 5:46 left. Then, Central Catholic moved the ball against Butler’s defense, worked for good shots and opened a 49-43 lead with three minutes left. Butler could get no closer than four the rest of the way.
“It’s the old story of sometimes you use so much energy getting back, you can’t get over the top,” Matt Clement said.
Butler shot only 24 percent (6 of 25) from the field in the first half and trailed, 16-2, at one point in the first quarter.
“We made some big shots to get back in it and tie it, but then it was almost like [Central Catholic] calmed down and said, ‘We got this again,’” Matt Clement said.
Ethan Morton, Butler’s splendid sophomore point guard, hit his scoring average with 23 points, but he had only 11 in the first three quarters. Morton finished 0 for 5 from 3-point range.
“We didn’t do anything special,” Crummie said. “We weren’t going to double him because I think he’s at his best when he’s a passer. But we wanted to make their other guys make plays.”