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BUTLER TWP — Talk about tempting fate.
Butler trailed Upper St. Clair by five points with less than 40 seconds remaining in its WPIAL 6A boys basketball semifinal Feb. 26 before rallying to defeat the Panthers, 83-78, in overtime.
Two weeks later, the Golden Tornado are taking on USC again, this time with senior point guard Ethan Morton coming off a sprained ankle in Saturday's 93-90 overtime win over Central Dauphin.
Butler (21-4) takes on USC (21-4) in a second-round PIAA 6A game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Allegheny.
The Panthers are coming off a 63-45 win over Allderdice in their first-round PIAA game. USC has won eight of its last nine games while the Tornado are riding a 16-game winning streak.
“I'm sure Ethan is going to try to play,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “The good thing is we played early Saturday, so he was able to get treatments on his ankle afterward.
“He told me it's coming along and was feeling better ... The only way he won't play Wednesday is if I tell him he can't play. Otherwise, you know he's going to be out there.”
Morton had 32 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in the WPIAL semifinal game. He enters this game with 2,175 career points.
Sophomore guard Devin Carney struck for 35 points that night, added 24 in the WPIAL title win over Mt. Lebanon and had a 39-point performance against Central Dauphin.
No other Butler player scored more than six points against USC, though Mattix Clement had eight rebounds that night.
“They killed us on the offensive boards in that game,” Coach Clement recalled of the WPIAL semifinals at Robert Morris University. “They scored 17 points off the offensive glass. That's too many.
“I'm not sure what to expect this time around. It could be the same fast-paced game it was last time or it may slow down. Both teams will make adjustments, I know that.”
USC placed four players in double figures against the Tornado in their first meeting. David Pantelis led the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Luke Gensler had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, Andrew Casey 15 points and six rebounds, Landon Rauch 14 points.
Pantelis and Rauch both fouled out in the final minute of regulation, costing the Panthers two starters in overtime.
“I have a lot of respect for that team and their coaches,” Clement said. “They have a very talented team that plays together.
“I'm sure they feel like they should have beaten us. Now they get another shot.”
Longtime USC coach Danny Holzer has won more than 400 games with the Panthers.
“I don't know what's going to happen Wednesday night,” Clement said. “I think back to us winning the section while going unbeaten there, winning the WPIAL championship, and the community support that's been there since our tip-off tournament.
“All those times we've been trailing in these games, we could feel and hear the energy of the crowd that's behind us. People think that plays no factor ... It does. The relationship between this team and the community, it's been special.”
Holzer could not be reached for comment.
