Frederick a champ in defeat
Every championship game has that “moment.”
It's that one single element of the day that finds its way into your memory bank and stays there forever.
That moment happened with 42.2 seconds left in Butler's 72-61 WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball title loss to Pine-Richland Saturday night at the Petersen Events Center.
Golden Tornado senior center Tyler Frederick fouled out of the game at that point. The score was 67-59 for the Rams and the issue had pretty much been decided.
The finality of it hit Frederick hard.
He had to walk all the way across the court to the Butler bench. He was openly weeping as he did so.
As he got to the far end of the bench and sat down, Frederick pulled his jersey up over his face and continued to sob.
A few teammates made their way over and consoled him, as they should have.
The huge throng comprising the Butler student section — the largest collection of students at a game this reporter has seen in 36 years of covering high school basketball — was seated behind the basket nearest the Butler bench. Frederick sat well within earshot of them.
As the senior felt the pain of defeat, the student section chanted “We love Tyler,” as they should have.
And I'm sure they do.
It's hard not to like this kid.
Frederick never picked up a basketball until seventh grade. He was starting varsity games two years later.
His development over the past four years has been incredible.
His thunderous dunks explode crowds into a frenzy. He had another one of those dunks Saturday night.
A soft-spoken kid off the court who cares deeply for his family — which includes 10 siblings — Frederick is a ferocious competitor on the floor.
“He's tough for anyone to guard. He's so tenacious in there,” Pine-Richland coach Jeff Ackermann said.
Butler still has the state tournament to play. Frederick has a college basketball career awaiting him afterward. He's earned it.
Those tears were understandable. The more you want something, the more it hurts when you don't get it.
This kid wanted that win Saturday night.
He is a champion regardless.
John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle
