Latrobe boys show grit in playoff victory over Butler

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 5:39 PM

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Miffed by constant comparisons to last year's team and the notion that it doesn't play enough defense to go far in the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs, Latrobe took out its frustration on Butler, the team that ended its season last year.

Ninth-seeded Latrobe leaned on physical defense and its usually fast-paced offense to run past No. 8 Butler, 73-66, on Saturday afternoon in a WPIAL Class 6A first-round playoff game at Fox Chapel.

Latrobe was the second seed last year when it lost to Butler in the quarterfinals after a first-round bye. One of the Wildcats' most talented teams did not win a playoff game. But this one has.

But enough about last year.

Recent history became ancient history as a sense of relief washed over the Wildcats.

“Every time you turn around, these guys are being compared to last year's team,” Wildcats coach Brad Wetzel said. “That feeling, that release of energy was real. It was palpable. These guys guys understand all the comparisons being made is not them. They're making their own story.”

Juniors Reed Fenton and Bryce Butler scored 24 and 23 points, respectively, for the Wildcats (16-7), who advance to play No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (19-3) next Saturday at a time and site to be determined.

Butler (18-5) star Ethan Morton was held in check for the better part of two-and-a-half quarters before turning in a big second half. By the time the sophomore guard, who has offers from Ohio State and Iowa, found his rhythm, Latrobe had a 47-31 lead.

Morton finished with 20 points, 17 in the final 11 minutes.

Luke Michalek added 14 points, and Mason Montag had 12 for the Golden Tornado, who took 60-59 lead with 1 minute, 53 seconds to play on a free throw from Montag, who hit three second-half 3-pointers.

Senior center Marcus Dudzenski added 13 points for Latrobe, including three dunks. The Wildcats negotiated foul trouble with Dudzenski, senior Jason Armstrong and Fenton playing late with four fouls each.

A 12-3 run by Latrobe gave the Wildcats a 42-29 lead in the third. Run-outs and transition points allowed Latrobe to build a cushion.

But players like Morton don't get bothered much by double-digit deficits.

An 11-0 run, keyed by a 3 from Morton, allowed the Golden Tornado to make headway. But Latrobe kept answering each punch with one of its own.

“That toughness and gritiness eluded us some in the past,” Wetzel said. “But today, our defense stepped up, and it was as good a collective effort as I've seen.”

After a silky jumper and soft turnaround from Morton tied it 59-59, Latrobe rode a 14-2 surge to retake command.

Armstrong's free throws gave the Wildcats a 71-63 advantage with 13.5 seconds remaining. Latrobe was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line in the fourth.

“The guys that needed to score, scored,” Wetzel said. “I thought Jason Armstrong was a man on the court tonight. There were particular times when he changed the tenor of the game by his sheer effort and energy. Anthony Fannie probably played his best defensive game of the year.

“Reed Fenton showed about 1,000 people he knows how to play defense, too. Bryce was there on the boards and made some great offensive putbacks.”

Butler made the title game last season but now has to look to next year.

“We have a resilient group,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “That has been these kids' M.O. over the last few games. Unfortunately, they fell short today. We'll have lost 18 seniors the last two years, but we have a good, young core coming back.”

Latrobe appears to be ultra-focused on a playoff run. The coaches are not allowing players to talk to the media in the postseason and asked players to cut down on social media use.

“It's nothing anybody did or anything like that,” Wetzel said. “We just want our guys to keep their minds on what we're doing. It's going to be one heck of a run if we keep playing this tough, this gritty.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Butler, Latrobe