BUTLER TWP - Forget the final score. Both teams got what they wanted Monday night in the Butler High School gym.

The Golden Tornado boys basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak and sent seniors Nate Hartung, Jerrod Markle and Matt Shockey out with a victory as Butler defeated Mars, 63-55, in the Tornado's season finale.

The Planets (17-7), headed for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, got a physical game against a physical team.

"That's why we wanted to play this game," Mars coach Rob Carmody said. "Butler is a big, physical team and playoff games are played a lot more physical."

Butler (11-13) jumped on Mars for an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes, only to see the Planets tie the game at 20 with 6:05 left in the second quarter.

The Tornado built a 38-25 edge with 5:42 left in the third quarter, only to watch Mars pull within three at 55-52 with 2:15 left in the game.

"They have a lot of talented players who can shoot the basketball," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "They just keep coming at you."

Butler finally put the game away in the final two minutes. Noah Hartung's lay-up with two minutes to play, two Markle free throws with 56 seconds remaining and an offensive rebound and stick-back by Noah Hartung with 31 seconds on the clock sealed the win.

The latter bucket gave the Tornado an insurmountable 61-52 lead.

"Everybody talks about Nate Hartung giving teams match-up problems … Noah Hartung does the same thing because he's so big and athletic," Carmody said. "That kid is all over the floor."

Noah Hartung scored 14 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and held Tim Frye (14 points per game) scoreless.

Frye was 0-for-9 from the floor.

"Tim didn't have the lift he normally gets when he shoots because he had to expend so much energy guarding Noah," Carmody said.

Markle added 14 points for Butler while Blake Anderson netted 12. The Tornado won despite committing 22 turnovers.

Sean Gallagher paced Mars with 13 points and six rebounds. Charlie Jaicks added 13 points, Scott Martinelli 12 and Dustin Wessel 10.

Butler enjoyed a 31-23 edge on the boards.

"We had a tough run this year after getting off to a strong (8-4) start," Lewandowski said. "We had a lot of young kids with little varsity experience going into the season and it was hard for them to get their confidence back.

"But I told them all year - I told everybody - that I knew we had great kids. They never stopped working hard."

Mars' loss snapped a three-game winning streak. The Planets had won seven of eight entering Monday's game.

Mars won 17 games for the first time since the 1982-83 season. The Planets played Butler for the first time since 1947.

"You can almost pull the seeds out of a hat in WPIAL Class AAA because the talent is so spread out," Carmody said. "If our five guys are all on their game, we'll be a tough out for anybody.

"Beating Knoch Friday was an emotional win for us because that's one of the top four seeds in Triple-A. We came out a little flat tonight and I expected that.

"I know we haven't played Butler in a lot of years, but I'd love to make this an annual game. Joe and I are close friends and we respect each other's program," Carmody added.

Lewandowski had to say goodbye to his three seniors Monday. Shockey made his second consecutive start and grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds before returning to the bench 40 seconds into the game.

"He set the tone for us tonight," Lewandowski said. "Nate Hartung is the epitomy of a high school athlete. He gives all he has all of the time.

"If my son grew up to be like Jerrod Markle, I'll have done a tremendous job as a Dad. We're gonna miss those guys."

MARS 55

Mark Lucas 0-3 0-0 0, Charlie Jaicks 5-8 0-0 13, Scott Martinelli 3-7 6-8 12, Dustin Wessel 5-7 0-0 10, Rob Herold 2-4 2-2 7, Tim Frye 0-9 0-0 0, Sean Gallagher 6-12 0-1 13. Totals: 21-50 8-11 55

BUTLER 63

Nate Hartung 3-7 0-0 6, Noah Hartung 7-11 0-0 14, Jerrod Markle 5-12 2-3 14, Adam Monday 0-1 0-0 0, Alan Jackson 2-2 0-0 4, Blake Anderson 5-6 0-0 12, Sean Lowry 2-2 1-2 5, Jade Burka 4-6 0-0 8, Matt Shockey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 28-47 3-7 63

3-point goals:

Jaicls 3, Herold, Gallagher; Markle 2, Anderson 2

JV:

Butler, 67-47 (B-Lowry 20, M-Steve Cress 10, D.J. Cannon 10, Zach Zollner 10)