Butler escapes again, headed to WPIAL Championsip Game

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For the second game in a row, the top-seeded Butler Golden Tornado went to overtime but came out on top with an 83-79 win against the fifth-seeded Upper St. Clair Panthers Wednesday night at Robert Morris University. Butler is in the WPIAL Championship Game for the second straight season.

The first half was very intense, both teams looking to run but both defenses holding strong. Devin Carney scored 21 first half points for the Golden Tornado and they had the lead at the half, 39-38. Things stayed tight in the third and we were tied 58-58 heading into the final quarter. Down 76-73 with 26 seconds left Ethan Morton tied the game with a three and we were headed to overtime.

In the extra period, Butler’s defense held the Upper St. Clair offense to two points and once again survived a scare winning 83-79. Carney finished with 35 points and Morton had 32.

Butler improves to 19-4 overall. It will be a rematch of last year’s WPIAL Championship as the Golden Tornado will take on third-seeded Mt. Lebanon. Mt. Lebanon won the 2018-19 meeting, 62-57.

Upper St. Clair falls to 20-4 overall. Upper St. Clair has qualified for the state playoffs. The PIAA First Round starts Saturday, March 7