BUTLER TWP — While its final exam is a long way off, Butler's varsity boys basketball team is passing a few tests early.

The Golden Tornado lost much of a 19-point lead in the first half and all of a 16-point advantage in the second, but rallied to defeat Brashear, 78-66, Tuesday night in their home opener.

“That's a very good basketball team,” Butler coach Matt Clement said of Brashear. “They are long, athletic and can score points in a hurry.

“They are going to give a lot of teams fits this season.”

They started with Butler on this night.

The Tornado (3-0) had a 32-13 lead with 5:19 left in the first half, only to watch the Bulls (2-1) use a 10-2 run at the end of the half to close within 38-28.

Consecutive 3-point field goals by Tyler Frederick and Joel Stutz gave Butler a 48-32 lead midway through the third period. Brashear responded again, going on a furious 18-2 run to grab a 59-56 edge with 6:05 left in the game.

Deymond Jones capped that rally with consecutive treys of his own.

“We didn't fall asleep or let up, we just made some bad passes and they just took off,” Clement said.

Ultimately, the Tornado took care of the ball in the fourth quarter, made their free throws and came away with the win. After committing 22 turnovers in the first three periods, Butler turned the ball over but once in the fourth.

Brashear coughed the ball up six times in the final eight minutes.

“I think I saw (point guard) Luke Michalek grow up during this one game, if that's possible,” Clement said. “He had some ill-advised passes early, but by the fourth quarter, he was protecting the ball and controlling the pace of this game.”

Brashear coach Carey White saw it differently.

“The officials had a lot to do with this,” White said. “Just add up the free throws. You'll get what I'm talking about.”

Butler sank 30 of 38 free throws while Brashear was nine of 15 at the line.

The inside tandem of Frederick and Connor Ollio came up big for the Tornado on both ends of the floor. Frederick scored 21 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, had three assists and three steals. Ollio netted 18 points and snared eight rebounds.

The duo combined to sink 18 of 19 free throws.

“It was important for us to box out tonight,” Frederick said. “We wound up getting chances inside ... That's just how the game went. It came to us.”

“It's time ... He can have nights like this all of the time,” Clement said of Frederick.

Clement said Butler had its best free-throw shooting effort as a team since he's been the Tornado coach.

“That's not including the Nate Snodgrass era,” he pointed out. “Nate's foul shooting always altered our team's overall numbers that way.”

Joel Stutz had 17 points and three assists for Butler while Michalek contributed 11 points.

“Oillio and Michalek are sophomores making their first varsity starts at home tonight. To see them play this well in such a tight game was impressive,” Clement said.

Jones paced the Bulls with 16 points. Joe Love added 15 points and five rebounds, Lontae Smith and Mike Zellous 10 points each.

“They made a lot of plays,” White said of Butler. “But the (free throw) differential shouldn't have been like this.”

Butler opens section play Friday night at North Hills.

“I like where we're at, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Clement said. “We're young and we're making a lot of mistakes.

“There's plenty of room for improvement.”

BRASHEAR 66

Lontae Smith 4-9 0-2 10, Daasaun Jackson 4-8 0-0 9, Tyler Pinkston 2-6 1-2 6, Joe Love 5-15 4-5 15, Deymond Jones 5-8 3-5 126, Nigel Franklin 0-0 0-0 0, Mike Zellous 4-8 2-2 10. Totals: 24-54 10-16 66.

BUTLER 78

Damien Pickett 0-0 0-00, Kaden Rock 1-2 2-2 4, Luke Michalek 3-4 3-6 11, Kelley Kuharic 0-0 0-0 0, Jace Stutz 1-5 4-4 7, Jason Gray 0-0 0-0 0, Tyler Frederick 6-14 8-9 21, Connor Ollio 4-6 10-10 18, Joel Stutz 6-12 3-7 17, Jefferson Ford 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 21-46 30-38 78.

Brashear 10 18 23 15— 66

Butler18 20 18 22— 78

3-point goals: Smith 2, Jackson, Pinkston, Love, Jones 3; Michalek 2, Ja. Stutz, Frederick, Jo. Stutz 2

Friday: Butler at North Hills