BUTLER TWP — Butler failed to make layups early, failed to defend late — and failed to get back in the WPIAL playoff picture.

Pine-Richland used an 11-2 run to begin the third quarter Wednesday night, breaking open a close game and moving on to a 49-35 Section 3-AAAA girls basketball victory over the Golden Tornado.

The loss was the fifth in six games for Butler (8-7, 3-6), which fell a game and a half behind the Rams for the final playoff berth in the section. Pine-Richland still has to play North Allegheny and Shaler, the section's top two teams.

“We need to win all three of our (section) games and get help,” Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. “But the way we're playing ... We didn't play with that sense of urgency tonight.

“We missed so many layups in the first half. If we make even a few of them, this is a different game.”

The Tornado's only lead of the game was at 13-12 — Paige Lambermont sinking a layup with 1:05 left in the opening half. The Rams (12-6, 5-5) took a 14-13 lead into halftime as Mackenzie Jenkins canned a layup with 34 seconds left.

“I reminded our girls at halftime how talented they are,” said Pine-Richland coach Cliff Foster, a Knoch graduate. “Sometimes, girls 15 and 16 years old can damage their own psyche.

“We came out in the second half and played like we can.”

Chelsea Rourke and Kaitlyn Jenkns, both sophomores, stuck back offensive rebounds during the 11-2 run in the third quarter. Jenkins scored nine points during the pivotal period.

Butler trailed by 12 entering the final quarter and fell behind 41-22 with 5:35 left in the game.

“We were lazy on defense and weren't closing lanes to the basket,” Epps said.

Freshman guard Amanda Kalin paced the Rams with 14 points. Kaitlyn Jenkins had 13 points and seven rebounds while younger sister Mackenzie came off the bench to grab six rebounds.

Pine-Richland had a 30-25 edge on the boards.

“It's fun watching two sisters that young go out there and get after it,” Foster said.

“We only have three players on our roster who are juniors or seniors. Our main goal this year was to get to the playoffs and we're close now. We're trying to build a foundation here.”

Pine-Richland was only 5-17 last season.

Julia Baxter paced the Tornado with 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Alyssa Diippa had seven steals.

Butler turned the ball over 12 times in the first three quarters, twice as many times as Pine-Richland.

“Pressure shouldn't be bothering us at this point in the season, but we face it and just freeze up,” Epps said.

As in his team's 57-38 win over the Tornado earlier this year, Foster said the key was containing Baxter and DiPippa.

“Not slighting their other girls, but those two are their go-to players,” he said. “Only bad things can happen when Baxter touches the ball. We just didn't want to let her touch it.

“We have so much respect for Butler's program. They do a tremendous job here. As excited as I am that we won, I hate beating that team.”

PINE-RICHLAND 49

Caitlyn Byerly 2-4 2-2 6, Chelsea Rourke 2-7 2-3 7, Rachel Steliotes 0-0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Jenkins 6-13 1-1 13, Megan Gryzbek 0-0 0-0 0, Hannah Fasler 2-3 1-2 5, Amanda Kalin 7-13 0-1 14, Mackenzie Jenkins 2-3 0-2 4. Totals: 21-43 6-11 49.

BUTLER 35

Alyssa DiPippa 2-7 2-4 6, Melea Barlow 0-0 0-0 0, Ronni Guiney 0-1 0-0 0, Danielle Hensel 2-4 2-2 7, Kalynn Callihan 2-12 0-0 6, Lauren Bresnahan 1-3 0-2 2, Julia Baxter 6-11 0-1 12, Tiana Schaffner 0-0 0-0 0, Paige Lambermont 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 14-39 4-9 35.

Pine-Richland 10 4 20 15 — 49

Butler6 7 9 13 — 35

3-point goals: Rourke; Hensel, Callihan 2

JV: No game

Today: Butler at Shaler