Vandalia, OH — The rivalry has been restored. Tippecanoe and Butler met for the first time this season. Tipp came off of a massive win over Sidney on Tuesday and looked to continue that momentum with snapping a multi-year long losing streak with their rivals from the south in Butler. Quincy Rackley got the game started off with a layup to put Butler on top early. Tippecanoe also turned the ball over on four straight possessions to start the game which Butler had trouble taking advantage of. The Aviators also had a slow start. Tipp’s Ben Knostman drove past the Aviator defense to cash in on an easy layup to make it a 4-2 game. This slow start from both teams led to a very low scoring affair. Tipp star Nolan Mader was also playing in just his second game back from a shin injury that has made him miss the whole season up to this past Tuesday where he made his senior debut vs Sidney. Butler senior Tyler Montague’s three-pointer gave Butler a 7-2 lead but a pair of buckets from Mader made it just a 7-6 game at the end of the 1st quarter. Ben Knostman got an and-one to start the second quarter but the 90% foul shooter missed the free throw to tie the game. Nolan Mader gave Tipp back the lead on a tough layup but appeared to hurt his hand on the shot as he was visibly shaking it later in the game. A deep three from sophomore Gavin Garlitz gave Tipp a 13-9 lead. Then, Butler senior Cooper Justice caught fire. He went coast to coast and made a layup plus some contact which he was awarded a foul call on. Then Justice nailed a three-pointer which gave Butler a 17-13 lead. Heading into halftime, the Aviators led 17-13. Gavin Garlitz got the second half started off with a deep three. Zach Frederick made some nice defensive plays. One of his two blocks on back to back possessions was corraled by Ben Knostman who went coast to coast before handing it off to Cole Coppock who in return gave it back to Knostman for the easy layup and the lead. Butler junior Quinton Hall started to catch fire in the second half as well. He nailed a contested corner three and then made a nice up and under layup off of the pass from Cooper Justice to give Butler a 22-19 lead. Butler led at the end of the third 24-21. Tyler Montague’s running floater gave Butler a 33-30 lead in the fourth, but Tippecanoe sophomore Gavin Garlitz tied the game up with a massive three to tie it a 33 apiece. Quincy Rackley missed a three but got his own rebound and made a putback to give Butler the lead. Then, Nick Robbins’ three was too strong and Ben Knostman’s putback was called for an over the back. Nolan Mader stole the inbound pass and was fouled going up for a layup. He ended up missing both free throws to keep it at a 36-35 Butler lead. Tipp had the ball with 30 seconds left down one. Tyler Montague was pushed over which was called as an illegal screen giving them the ball back. Cooper Justice was quickly fouled which put him at the line shooting two. Both free throws were short and Gavin Garlitz pulled down the rebound. With 15 seconds left, Ben Knostman drove down the lane and kicked it out to Griffin Caldwell who gave it to Nolan Mader. Mader did a dribble move before finding a wide-open Knostman standing in the paint. Knostman was fouled on the layup attempt but his shot went in and out. The 90% free throw shooter made both to give Tipp the one-point advantage with 6 seconds remaining. Then the play of the night for Montague. He drove coast to coast in 6 seconds before throwing up a prayer in Mader’s face which somehow found the bottom of the net. 39-37. Ballgame. Montague finished with 11, Quincy Rackley with 9, Cooper Justice with 8, and Quinton Hall with 7. Tipp was led by Ben Knostman with 12, Gavin Garlitz with 11, and Nolan Mader with 9. Butler will look to keep the tides rolling as they battle Piqua on Tuesday and Tipp will look to rebound versus Stebbins on Tuesday as well.