CANONSBURG — Game in the balance, stand at the foul line, sink free throws.

Win game.

Ethan Morton knows the drill.

“He's been doing that since the third grade,” Butler boys basketball coach Matt Clement said.

The Butler junior guard did it again Saturday, sinking all eight of his free throws in the final 1:14 Saturday at Canon-McMillan, helping the Golden Tornado put away a 75-70 win over Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals.

The victory — Butler's sixth in a row — lifted the Golden Tornado (19-4) into the semifinal round, where they will face Pine-Richland (21-2) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fox Chapel.

Butler is 1-7 against the Rams in the past three seasons.

Mason Montag tossed in a pair of free throws as well, giving Butler a 73-67 edge with 9.3 seconds left. After Dave Pantelis sank a trey to pull USC (19-4) within three points with 5.4 seconds left, Morton finally iced the game with his final two free throws with 3.2 seconds to go.

“Man, that team is good,” a drained Morton said of Upper St. Clair after the game. “They just kept coming.”

But the Tornado managed to stay a step ahead.

Butler never had a double-digit lead, but Upper St. Clair never had the lead at all in the final three quarters. The Panthers thought they scored a layup for a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but the horn sounded just before the shot.

Butler scored the first five points of the final period to assume a 6-point lead. When Mattix Clement sank a free throw with 4:57 remaining, the Tornado had their biggest lead of the day at 64-56. The Panthers responded with an 8-1 run to pull within 65-64 with 1:30 to play.

Butler was flawless at the line for the rest of the game.

“Ethan's at about 82 percent at the line this year, which is actually down from where he was (last year),” Clement said. “He knows the ball is going to be in his hands down the stretch and he's going to be fouled.”

Morton had 32 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals on the day. He sank three treys and was 17 of 18 at the foul line, 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter.

“Our plan was to deny him the lane, not let him drive,” USC coach Danny Holzer said. “We were able to do that, for the most part, but he's a great player who finds so many ways to beat you.

“This was the type of game we expected. We knew it'd be close either way.”

Devin Carney scored 12 points for Butler, hitting three treys in the second quarter. Mattix Clement had 11 points and four rebounds.

Luke Patten had eight points and nine rebounds despite playing much of the game in foul trouble. Montag spelled him at times and had eight points and four rebounds.

“My job today was to go in there and fill his shoes,” Montag said. “I had to give the team what Luke gives the team when he's on the court.

“This was the most intense game I've ever played in. It was crazy out there.”

Coach Clement, Morton and Mattix Clement have close ties with Upper St. Clair. Morton and Mattix have been AAU teammates with some of the Panther players. Clement and Holzer have coached AAU ball together.

“He's one of my best friends,” coach Clement said of Holzer. “This was the match-up I didn't want to get. Danny's been a great coach there for years and I didn't want to have to play them with so much on the line.”

Butler clinched a berth in the PIAA Tournament with the win. For USC to join the state tourney, the Tornado will have to win the WPIAL championship.

“We're pulling for them. We don't want to be done playing yet,” Holzer said.

Five Panthers reached double figures Saturday. Dave Pantelis led the way with 16 points. Ben Sandusky had 15, Chris Pantelis 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Tanner Gensler 13 points and 10 rebounds, Luke Geisler 10 points and four assists.

“They have a lot of weapons and they are so well-coached,” Clement said. “This is a big, big win for us.”

Morton considered it a big win for all of Butler.

“I wanted my teammates to experience what I was able to experience my freshman year, a nice playoff run,” Morton said. “I'm thrilled we got this win because of what lies ahead now.

“I wanted this win for the school, for the community. These people come out to every game and put their heart into everything for us. Their support means so much.”

Clement understands why Morton wants to bring a championship home to Butler so badly.

“He wants it for the same reasons I want it ... He loves this community,” the coach said, grinning.

Pine-Richland has defeated Butler twice this season, but had to rally from 17 points down to nip Peters Township, 66-64, in Saturday's quarterfinal. Mt. Lebanon will play Canon-McMillan in the other 6A semifinal Wednesday.

BUTLER 75

Devin Carney 4-8 1-2 12, Mattix Clement 4-9 1-2 11, Luke Patten 3-6 1-4 8, Mason Montag 2-5 4-6 8, Ethan Morton 6-12 17-18 32, Isaiah Scribner 2-3 0-0 4, Charlie Kreinbucher 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Slomers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-43 24-32 75.

UPPER ST. CLAIR 70

Dave Pantelis 5-10 4-8 16, Ethan Dahlem 0-1 0-0 0, Luke Geisler 4-10 0-0 10, Chris Pantelis 5-12 0-0 14, Ben Sandusky 7-13 1-1 15, Luke Gensler 0-2 0-0 0, Tanner Gensler 5-15 0-0 13, Andrew Casey 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 27-67 5-9 70.

Butler 16 20 17 22 — 75

Upper St. Clair14 18 20 18 — 70

3-point goals: Carney 3, Clement 2, Patten, Morton 3; D.Pantelis 2, Geisler 2, C.Pantelis 4, Gensler 3

Wednesday: WPIAL 6A semifinal-Butler vs. Pine-Richland, 8 p.m., at Fox Chapel