PINE TWP — Matt Clement forced himself to watch the last shot of the game.

His Butler boys basketball team was in dire need of a win to bolster its playoff hopes and the Golden Tornado were within three seconds of getting it.

They led Pine-Richland 82-80 Friday with just 3.2 seconds remaining, but the Rams had the ball and inbounded it to guard Andrew Alexander, who dribbled across mid-court before releasing a desperation shot.

“Normally, I’d be hiding beneath one of the chairs,” said Clement, “but I watched this one, I saw the trajectory.”

And he watched the attempt miss the mark and the Golden Tornado prevail in a thriller decided by two points.

The Rams (10-9, 5-5) had already defeated the Tornado twice this season, including a 66-65 heartbreaker Jan. 18 when Butler missed a last-second shot.

Butler (10-8, 4-7) moves into sole possession of fourth place in the Section 1-6A standings. The top four teams will qualify for the postseason.

“We were desperate to get this win tonight and that’s how we have to continue to play,” said Raine Gratzmiller, who scored 19 points Friday. “The best part is it came on their (Rams’) home floor.”

Butler had several big leads in the game, was up 26-8 after one quarter and led 60-45 late in the third.

Then the Rams, who had made just four of their first 26 attempts from 3-point range on the night, caught fire from beyond the arc.

Josh Gimbel hit a pair of treys in the final quarter. Luke Shanahan, Nate Zavasky and Alexander each drained one as well and the Rams crept closer to a season sweep of Butler.

Gimbel’s trey pulled P-R to within 81-80 with nine seconds left, but Gratzmiller added a late free throw and Alexander’s shot did not fall.

“It’s hard to hold a good 3-point shooting team down for long,” said Clement. “We’ve lost a number of close games this season and to figure out how to win one, I’m just really proud of the team.

“It’s not just the points, it’s the loose balls, the hustle and the passes. I’m proud of the guys.”

Butler’s win featured balanced scoring efforts. Aside from Gratzmiller’s 19 points, Devin Carney scored 27, Braylon Littlejohn came off the bench to score 21 while Madden Clement contributed 11.

Gratzmiller felt the team was ready mentally for a rally by the Rams.

“I like to think we have players who have the experience of playing in big games,” he said. “We know what it takes to play well in those moments.”

Carney was shadowed by P-R’s Jameson O’Toole almost the entire game. The former scored four points in the first half, then erupted for 23 in the second, including 11 in the decisive final period.

“He got to the rim,” Matt Clement said of Carney’s play after halftime. “He’s such a good 3-point shooter and they were worried about him on the outside.”

Rams’ coach Bob Petcash was unavailable for comment.

In the junior varsity game, Ryan McLister’s shot just before the final buzzer lifted Butler to a 58-57 win. Colin Casteel led the Tornado with 20 points.

BUTLER 82

Braylon Littlejohn 10 1-1 21, Raine Gratzmiller 5 9-12 19, Devin Carney 8 11-12 27, Madden Clement 3 3-4 11, Charlie Kreinbucher 2 0-2 4, Colin Patterson 0 0-0 0, Colin Casteel 0 0-0 0, CJ Singleton 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 24-31 82.

PINE-RICHLAND 80

Andrew Alexander 5 4-5 15, Andy Swartout 5 5-7 16, Owen Luellen 2 1-1 5, Andrew Lamendola 1 3-4 6, Luke Shanahan 6 1-2 14, Josh Gimbel 3 0-0 9, Nate Zavasky 4 0-0 10, Jameson O’Toole 1 1-2 3, Emery Moye 1 0-0 2. Totals: 28 15-21 80.

Butler 26 10 24 22 - 82

P-R 8 23 16 33 - 80

3-point goals: Butler 2 (Clement 2); Pine-Richland 9 (Gimbel 3, Zavasky 2, Alexander, Lamendola, Shanahan, Swartout).

Tuesday: North Allegheny at Butler