BUTLER TWP - Nine points in five seconds.

Butler's quick start, solid finish and buzzer-beating plays combined to defeat Seneca Valley, 55-40, Friday night in boys basketball.

"They got nine points in five seconds, if you look at the end of the first three quarters," Raiders coach Vic Giannotta said. "When you look at the overall picture, those were huge points."

After falling behind 12-0 in the first three minutes and 21-4 after the first quarter, Seneca Valley (2-18, 1-11) pulled to within four points at 43-39 with 6:31 left in the game.

"They called a timeout at that point, switched from man-to-man to zone and we couldn't make a shot," Giannotta said. "That was the game."

Seneca Valley scored one point - a free throw by Kevin Mayberry - in the final 6:31.

After a Jerrod Markle 3-pointer extended Butler's lead to 46-39, the Golden Tornado (10-10, 5-7) scored their final nine points at the foul line.

"We talked about making them earn their points, about playing disciplined defense and not putting them at the line," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "The kids did a good job of doing that."

They did a good job at the end of each quarter as well. Alan Jackson stuck back an offensive rebound with one second left in the first quarter.

Nate Hartung sank a layup while being fouled with 1.4 seconds left in the first half. He missed the free throw, but Adam Monday tipped in the rebound before the buzzer.

Monday drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter, giving Butler a 43-33 lead at the time.

The Tornado never trailed in the game.

Monday started for the first time this season, replacing point guard Blake Anderson, who missed the game with an ankle injury. Anderson's status for Saturday night's game with Ambridge is unknown.

"Monday got his first start and played great," Lewandowski said. "It's nice having a guy on the bench who you know will provide an immediate spark when he enters the game.

"Tonight, he helped us get off to probably our fastest start of the year," he added.

Monday sank a 3-pointer, stole the ball and drove for a layup during the Tornado's 12-0 run to begin the game.

"We weren't getting in position defensively and were giving up too many fast breaks," Giannotta said.

Nate Hartung led Butler with 16 points and got both of Seneca Valley's big post players into foul trouble. Dave Monteleone fouled out with 3:13 left and Don Barclay had four fouls before the end of the third quarter.

Monday had 14 points and six rebounds, and Noah Hartung had eight rebounds and six assists. Jade Burka had eight points and eight boards before fouling out with 2:33 to play.

Butler had a 32-22 rebounding edge, but had 19 turnovers to Seneca Valley's eight.

"With Blake not playing, we had Jerrod Markle move to point," Lewandowski said. "He went to the bench with foul trouble and we had no true point guard on the floor. Turnovers became a problem."

Despite fouling out, Monteleone led the Raiders with 16 points. Mayberry added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Officially out of the playoff chase, Butler is now aiming for its first winning season since 1999-2000.

"That'd be a nice achievement for these kids and an important step for this program," Lewandowski said.

SENECA VALLEY 40

Kevin Mayberry 4-8 3-4 12, Kevin Rohm 0-0 0-0 0, Pat Heery 0-2 4-4 4, Dan Stanley 3-15 0-0 6, Gabe Grinder 0-1 0-0 0, Dave Monteleone 7-18 2-3 16, Sean Eagle 0-1 2-2 2, Don Barclay 0-4 0-2 0. Totals: 14-49 11-16 40

BUTLER 55

Nate Hartung 6-6 4-8 16, Noah Hartung 1-4 2-5 4, Jerrod Markle 2-3 2-2 7, Adam Monday 5-9 2-3 14, Sean Lowry 0-2 4-7 4, Jade Burka 3-4 2-2 8, Nick Martini 0-0 0-0 0, Alan Jackson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 18-30 16-28 55

3-point goals:

Mayberry; Markle, Monday 2

JV:

Seneca Valley, 47-44 (SV-Shawn Eagle 14, Mike Emling 14, B-Sean Lowry 11)

Saturday:

Trinity vs. Seneca Valley @ Chartiers Valley, 1 p.m.; Butler vs. Mt. Lebanon @ Chartiers Valley, 7 p.m.