PITTSBURGH — Central Catholic has had trouble closing out basketball games all season.

The Vikings closed one out Tuesday night — but did not close out Butler.

Central sank eight of nine shots from the field, seven of nine from the foul line in the fourth quarter, pulling away from the Golden Tornado for a 61-49 Section 3-AAAA victory at Alumni Hall.

The Vikings (7-12, 4-8) took a 38-32 lead into the final period.

“We missed our chance at the beginning of that quarter,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “We forced turnovers on five of their first six possessions, but only scored off one of them. And they scored the one time we didn't get the ball.

“We didn't execute as well in the half-court game as I thought we would tonight, especially in a game with so much stake. This is a disappointing loss.”

But it turned out to be just a loss.

With Seneca Valley dropping an 83-50 decision at home to North Allegheny Tuesday night, the Golden Tornado (12-8, 4-7) and Raiders will play for the final playoff spot out of Section 3 Friday night in Butler.

The winner goes on. The loser goes home.

As for Tuesday's game, Vikings coach Chuck Crummie finally saw his team “finish one off.”

“Our intense level of play has always been there,” Crummie said. “We just haven't been closing games out. We gave up what amounted to a nine-point play against North Hills. We had Shaler down by 14 and didn't finish. This time, we did.”

Central didn't take its first lead until a Damar Hamlin free throw put the Vikings ahead 21-20 with 2:29 left in the first half. Butler's biggest lead was 20-14 with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

The Tornado's last lead was at 26-25 — after a Justice Lewandowski trey — early in the third period. Butler managed only four treys all night — just two in the first three quarters.

“We got some open looks early, when we had the lead,” Clement said. “We missed a chance to fire some daggers there.”

“Butler's got some shooters out there,” Crummie said. “Our first mode of defense was to take away Lewandowski, because he can fill it up. He did a good job of dishing off.

“We left some plays open on the inside, but their youngest starter (sophomore Tyler Frederick) plays down there. We wanted to put the burden on him, if we could.”

Mark Gross paced Butler with 18 points, adding four rebounds. Frederick had nine points and nine rebounds, Lewandowski nine points and four assists. Andrew Paterno had four assists as well.

“Mark had a nice game down low. He produced in there,” Clement said.

Bobby Kiernan paced the Vikings with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Bricen Garner added 12 points and three assists.

Central played without senior center Alex Schoppen for the second straight game.

“It seemed we had a starter out with an injury every week,” Crummie said. “That and with our football season running late, team chemistry was a problem this year. These last few games are all about pride for us.”

Butler had a 27-18 edge in rebounding, but turned the ball over 20 times.

“Our offensive rebounding wasn't there,” Clement said. “Against their type of defense, we didn't give ourselves enough second chances.”

BUTLER 49

Damien Pickett 0-0 0-0 0, Kaden Rock 0-0 0-0 0, Jace Stutz 2-4 0-0 6, Justice Lewandowski 2-10 3-4 9, Keenan Krause 2-5 3-6 7, Andrew Paterno 0-6 0-0 0, Tyler Frederick 3-9 3-4 9, Joel Stutz 0-0 0-0 0, Eric Hindman 0-0 0-0 0, Jake Anderson 0-1 0-0 0, Mark Gross 6-8 6-8 18. Totals: 15-38 15-21 49.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 61

Damar Hamlin 1-2 1-2 3, Bobby Kiernan 7-10 2-2 17, John Petrishen 2-4 1-3 5, Bricen Garner 4-7 4-5 12, Carlo Catania 0-1 2-2 2, Ryan Sproule 2-4 1-2 5, Jonathan DeVito 1-2 0-0 3, David George 1-1 2-2 4, Andrew Derda 0-1 0-0 0, Matt Bilyak 1-2 2-2 4, Sean Whalen 3-7 0-0 6. Totals: 22-41 15-20 61.

Butler 14 9 9 17 — 49

Central Catholic10 13 15 23 — 61

3-point goals: Lewandowski 2, Ja.Stutz 2; Kiernan, DeVito

JV: Central, 67-61 (B: Connor Ollio 20, Kaden Rock 14; CC: Steve Votodam 16, Josh Revok 13, Luke Nedrow 10)

Friday: Seneca Valley at Butler