PITTSBURGH — The game got away. The memory will stick around forever.

A three-point play and two free throws by Ethan Morton kept Butler close at 63-59 with 2:20 left in Saturday night's WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball championship game at the Petersen Events Center. An 8-0 run then sealed the deal for Pine-Richland.

Evan Luellen stuck back an offensive rebound, then canned a lay-up. Andrew Kristofic and Phil Jurkovec added two free throws each.

The Rams (24-1) secured a 72-61 victory and their second consecutive WPIAL title. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Butler (17-9).

“These kids know how much I care about them. I love this group and I love my hometown,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Not many people get to coach in the community where they were born and raised.

“These guys got to experience the same type of playoff run I did when I played for Butler. They know what that feels like now. I'm excited for them in that regard. I know they'll never forget this.”

When Jace Stutz drained a 3-pointer with 6:13 remaining, Butler pulled within 54-52.

The Rams took the lead for good at 48-45 on a Greg Shulkosky trey with 1:40 left in the quarter. Shulkosky came off the bench to sink three treys and scored 11 points.

His biggest trey may have been his last one.

A minute after the Stutz 3-pointer pulled the Tornado within 54-52, Butler's Tyler Frederick slipped and fell to the floor, leaving Shulkosky open for a trey from the left corner. That shot gave Pine-Richland a 57-52 edge.

“That was a big play for them,” Stutz said. “We knew that kid was a shooter and Tyler would have been out there on him.

“We hung in with them until the end. We just couldn't finish it.”

Saturday night's game was tied seven times — four times in the third quarter — and the lead changed hands eight times. Butler's last lead was at 45-43 with 2:35 left in the third period.

Jurkovec had 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for P-R while Andrew Petcash had 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, sophomore center Kristofic 14 points and eight boards, Shulkosky 11 points.

“When our scoring is that balanced, we're tough to beat,” P-R coach Jeff Ackermann said. “It's like, pick your poison. Choose who you're going to stop and someone else is gonna step up.”

Petcash agreed.

“We had a couple more guys step up tonight than they did. That was the only difference,” Petcash said. “Butler always plays us tough. I love playing them because it's always a great game.

“Both teams bring a lot of fans. These kinds of games are why you play.”

Butler nearly had four players in double digits in its own right. Morton had 17 points and three assists, Frederick 14 points and eight rebounds, Connor Ollio 12 points and Jace Stutz nine.

Frederick sat for a lot of minutes in foul trouble and fouled out with 42.2 seconds remaining. The Tornado did not have key reserve Jason Gray available for the second half as he sprained an ankle late in the first half.

Pine-Richland enjoyed a 33-21 rebounding edge and scored numerous field goals off offensive rebounds.

“They hurt us on the offensive glass and Tyler's foul trouble was a factor,” Clement said. “But losing Jason Gray probably affected us the most. There's a key piece who wasn't available to us.”

Butler did continue its impeccable accuracy at the foul line. The Tornado sank all 10 of its free throws Saturday and hit 65 of 75 free throws in the WPIAL tournament.

Pine-Richland's win was its third of the season over Butler. This marked the second straight year the Rams defeated a fellow section foe to win the WPIAL title.

“Our section has a lot to do with our success,” Ackermann said. “Butler has a great team. They are the most physical team we play. They try to out-tough you and we had to be prepared for that.”

The Tornado were greeted by a huge throng of Butler fans — students and community people alike — as they took the floor to begin the game. The Butler fan contingent numbered in the thousands.

“These kids — not me — caused this to happen,” Clement said of the crowd support. “They made the community, the school the town get behind them. They brought Butler basketball back. They made people care again.

“They should be so proud of that. I know I'm proud of them — and so thankful for the support.”

The atmosphere of Saturday night's game was not lost on Tornado senior Joel Stutz.

“Coming out onto the court in a venue like this, playing for a championship, hearing such a loud ovation from so many people who made the trip down ... This is what a basketball player dreams about.”

BUTLER 61

Luke Michalek 0-1 0-0 0, Jace Stutz 3-04 1-1 9, Ian McCarrier 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Gray 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Frederick 6-15 2-2 14, Connor Ollio 5-7 2-2 12, Ethan Morton 5-11 5-5 17, Joel Stutz 2-8 0-0 6, Jefferson Ford 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 22-49 10-10 61.

PINE-RICHLAND 72

Andrew Petcash 8-16 1-2 18, Nolan Rausch 0-2 0-0 0, Evan Luellen 2-3 1-2 5, Andrew Kristofic 6-9 2-4 14, Phil Jurkovec 7-15 5-6 21, Sean Colosimo 1-3 0-0 3, Greg Shulkosky 4-7 0-0 11. Totals: 29-55 9-13 72.

Butler 15 14 18 14 — 61

Pine-Richland11 18 21 22 — 72

3-point goals: Ja.Stutz 2, Morton 2, Jo.Stutz 2, Ford; Petcash, Colosimo, Shuilkosky 3

Saturday: PIAA Class 6A-Butler vs. Canon-McMillan, 3 p.m., at North Allegheny