BUTLER TWP — Non-section games don't mean non-effort.

Butler and South Fayette showed as much Saturday in the Golden Tornado gym. The score was tied seven times and the lead changed hands nine times before Butler pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 71-61 boys basketball victory.

“We've played these guys for the past four years and it's always been a hard-fought game,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “That's what you want at this time of year.”

Lions coach Rich Bonnaure agreed.

“This game has been good for both of us,” he said.

Neither team ever had more than a five-point lead in the first three quarters and the score was tied at 51 entering the fourth.

That's when Butler took over.

A 16-4 run turned a 53-53 game with 7:22 left into a 69-57 Butler lead with barely a minute to play. Kaden Rock sank a pair of treys and Connor Ollio hit a couple of lay-ups to help expand the lead.

Ultimately, 26 turnovers — six in the fourth quarter — doomed South Fayette (10-8).

“Our game is fast-paced and we like to generate points in transition,” Bonnaure said. “But Butler handled that well. They took the ball away from us and they shot it extremely well.”

The Tornado (14-5) drained 12 treys. Rock had five of them to go with his 17 points and three assists. Ollio had 16 points and five rebounds.

Joel Stutz had 14 points, four assists and three steals for Butler. Luke Michalek had nine assists and nine steals.

“Luke took his game to another level today,” Clement said. “I've had players get nine assists in a game, nine steals in a game ... To get them both in the same game is crazy.”

Butler played Saturday without the services of junior center and leading rebounder Tyler Frederick. The Tornado were out-rebounded, 26-22.

“Tyler's been a little sick and he's banged up,” Clement said. “If this was a section game, he would have played. But it was a good win to go out and get without him.”

The Lions, 7-3 in Section 5-AAA and still in the running for the section title, placed four in double figures. Noah Plack had 18 points and six rebounds, Cameron Garland 16 points and three assists, Ryhan Culberson 15 points and 10 rebounds, Matt Thomas 10 points, four assists and three steals.

“Coach Clement plays the same type of basketball we do,” Bonnaure said. “Hopefully, we gave them a bit of a different look today.

“The idea of these non-section games is to prepare teams for the playoffs. But any game you play, you always want to win.”

Butler hosts Central Catholic Tuesday night. The Tornado can clinch a WPIAL playoff spot with a victory.

“There's still a lot out there for us to accomplish,” Clement said. “But you can only go a game at a time. We have to get ready.”

SOUTH FAYETTE 61

Cameron Garland 4-6 6-6 16, Matt Thomas 3-7 3-4 10, Noah Plack 7-10 4-6 18, Ray Eldridge 0-0 0-0 0, Ryhan Culberson 6-10 3-4 15, Brent Willner 0-2 0-0 0, Sidney Pinnix 0-0 0-0 0, Byron Hudson 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Berkowitz 0-0 0-0 0, Anthony Frost 1-1 0-0 2, Josh Castelluci 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-36 16-20 61.

BUTLER 71

Damien Pickett 1-1 0-2 2, Kaden Rock 5-12 2-2 17, Luke Michalek 2-8 0-0 5, Kelley Kuharic 2-7 0-0 6, Jace Stutz 2-5 0-0 4, Joel Gray 2-3 0-0 5, Connor Ollio 7-9 2-3 16, Joel Stutz 3-7 5-6 14, Jefferson Ford 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 25-54 9-17 71.

South Fayette 19 16 16 10 — 61

Butler16 20 15 20 — 71

3-point goals: Garland 2, Thomas; Rock 5, Michalek, Kuharic 2, Gray, Jo.Stutz 3

JV: Butler, 49-38 (SF: John Beck 12, Tim Locher 10; B: Tarik Taoufik 11, Ian McCarrier 9)

Tuesday: Central Catholic at Butler