CRANBERRY TWP — One team's glory was another team's gloom.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic placed four starters in double figures Tuesday night. The Trojans never trailed again after taking the lead early in the second quarter in shocking Butler, 68-53, in a non-section boys basketball game.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak — against big schools Norwin, Brashear and Seneca Valley — for CWNC (5-6).

“It's been brutal,” CWNC coach Dave Long said of the schedule. “But that's been by design the past two or three years to get us ready for section play. Tonight was the first time we came out and played basketball the way we can for four quarters.

“We showed some improvement in hanging with Seneca Valley (64-53) Saturday. This game was the exclamation point in terms of that improvement.”

On the other side, Butler (9-3) saw its four-game winning streak snapped as the Golden Tornado were playing their sixth successive road game.

“This game scared me,” Butler coach Matt Clement admitted. “Non-section on the road on a Tuesday night ... We had a lack of effort, a lack of hustle. Everything people have been praising us for wasn't there tonight.

“A lot of people from Butler came here to watch this game and we rolled out a stinker. I'm embarrassed and disappointed. And I know six dedicated seniors walking to our bus right now who feel the same way.”

Justin Lewandowski hit a buzzer-beating trey for Butler to knot the game at 12 at the end of the first quarter. But the Trojans took the lead for good at 16-15 on a Tristan Newcamp layup with 6:26 left in the second quarter.

Trojan 6-foot-5 senior center Vince LeGrande took over in the second period, scoring 11 of his 19 points. He had 14 rebounds and four blocked shots on the night as well.

“His guards did a good job of getting the ball to him tonight,” Long said. “We finally recognized that Vince can do some things inside for us and we need to get the ball in his hands.

“I can be impatient with the kids at times. The Dallas Cowboys believe Tony Romo is coming into his own and he's 35. If Romo can do it at that age, maybe our kids are doing it now.”

Butler trailed by eight at the half and fell behind by 12 in the third period. Another buzzer-beating trey by Lewandowski — this one ending the third quarter — pulled the Tornado back within eight.

But CWNC scored the first six points of the final quarter and Butler never threatened again.

“I hate to use the word disinterested, but that's what we looked like,” Clement said. “We missed a bunch of layups, didn't box out, we missed free throws and gave up offensive rebounds. All of that has been uncharacteristic of this group to this point.”

Newcamp paced CWNC with 22 points. He also had six rebounds. Timon Gribbin — the Trojans' lone returning starter from last year — had 16 points and four assists, Chris Goetz 11 points and four rebounds.

The Trojans enjoyed a 31-18 advantage on the boards. CW North Catholic shot 75 percent — 15 of 20 — from the field in the second half, driving to the basket repeatedly.

“I'm excited about our team after watching this,” Long said. “Now we get back into section play and we look ready.”

Lewandowski scored 14 points and was Butler's only player in double figures. Keenan Krause and Joel Stutz had three assists each.

The Tornado lost sophomore forward Tyler Frederick to an undisclosed injury late in the first quarter. He did not return to the game.

“I don't think we win tonight even if we had Tyler,” Clement said. “We'll get back at it, regroup, and we'll be ready for Central Catholic come Friday.”

BUTLER 53

Damien Pickett 1-4 0-0 2, Kelley Kuharic 1-3 0-0 2, Kaden Rock 1-2 0-0 2, Jace Stutz 2-5 0-0 6, Justice Lewandowski 5-10 0-0 14, Keenan Krause 1-4 2-2 4, Andrew Paterno 1-6 1-2 4, Tyler Frederick 2-4 0-0 4, Jake Anderson 1-1 0-0 2, Joel Stutz 2-5 0-0 4, Connor Ollio 1-1 0-0 2, Eric Hindman 0-0 1-2 1, Mark Gross 3-5 0-2 6. Totals: 21-50 4-8 53.

CW NORTH CATHOLIC 68

Tom Braun 0-3 0-0 0, Chris Goetz 5-6 0-1 11, Trisan Newcamp 9-12 3-8 22, Timon Gribbin 4-8 8-12 16 Vince LeGrande 9-12 0-1 19, Jake Matschner 0-1 0-0 0, Ken Fucan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-46 11-22 68.

Butler 12 7 20 14 — 53

CWNC12 15 20 21 — 68

3-point goals: Ja.Stutz 2, Lewandowski 4, Paterno; Goetz, Newcamp, LeGrande

JV: Butler, 61-32 (B: Connor Ollio 12, Damien Pickett 10; CWNC: Ken Fucan 13, Cam Laconi 12)

Friday: Central Catholic at Butler, Aquinas Academy at CW North Catholic