BUTLER TWP — The game was up for grabs. Butler just couldn’t snare it.

The Golden Tornado turned the ball over six times and missed the front end of two one-and-one’s in the fourth quarter Saturday night, dropping a 44-42 Section 3-AAAA boys basketball decision to Pine-Richland.

“We didn’t lose this game on the missed free throws or the turnover at the end,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “We lost this game as it progressed.”

The Tornado (5-11, 2-8) did not sink a field goal in the second quarter, yet the game was tied 17-17 at halftime.

Overall, neither team ever led by more than six points, the lead changed hands six times and was tied on four occasions, including at 40-40 with 2:46 to play.

Butler’s last lead was at 42-41, courtesy of a Seth Cook layup with 58 seconds left after Dom Pusateri missed the front end of a one-and-one a minute earlier.

The visiting Rams (9-8, 2-8) took the lead for good at 43-42 on a Pat Sullivan layup with 47 seconds left.

But Butler still had its chances.

Keenan Krause missed the front end of a one-and-one with 15 seconds to play. When Sullivan did likewise with 6.1 seconds left, Krause grabbed the rebound and the Tornado called a timeout with 3.5 seconds to go.

As Pusateri tried receiving the inbounds pass while circling to head up the floor, the ball trickled off his fingertips and bounced out of bounds.

“This game isn’t going to win any beauty contest and the film won’t be shown in the Hall of Fame, but this was two teams who went hard after each other today,” Pine-Richland coach Brian Gaetano said.

“Considering where both teams are in the standings, and the intensity on that floor ... this is what high school sports are supposed to be about.”

The Rams’ Brock Baranowski sank one of two free throws with 1.2 seconds left. Nick Patten’s desperation fling across the court hit the top of the backboard as time expired.

“We had our chances. We didn’t execute enough to win the game,” Clement said. “For the most part, we’ve played good defense this year. But, offensively, we’re not helping ourselves enough to win.”

Butler has been held below 50 points in nine of its 16 games this season. The Tornado are 1-8 in those games.

Nine different players have started games for Butler this season. Senior forward Luke Tincha got his first start Saturday.

Pine-Richland snapped a three-game losing streak. The Tornado have dropped four straight games, six of their last seven.

“We’ll keep searching for the right combinations,” Clement said. “We improved our play today. Still, we have to play better.”

Sullivan paced Pine-Richland with 13 points. Baranowski had 11 points and four steals for the Rams. The point guard did not play in P-R’s 49-44 loss to Butler earlier this season.

“Brock is not a great player, but he’s a leader,” Gaetano said. “He doesn’t get rattled and the other kids look to him. He knows how to make plays at critical times.

“He’s a winner. He’s a special kid and I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Pusateri had 12 points, three assists and two steals for Butler. Arum Krause came off the bench to collect five rebounds and two assists.

Both teams had 24 rebounds. Butler had 17 turnovers to Pine-Richland’s 13.

“I won’t say we’re a young team, but we’re an inexperienced team,” Clement said. “We haven’t been able to get guys open offensively. We’ll keep searching.

“My job is to win games and we’re not doing it right now.”

PINE-RICHLAND 44

Brock Baranowski 5-9 1-3 11, Shea Sullivan 0-2 3-4 3, Tom Hartman 0-0 2-2 2, Dean Steliotes 4-7 0-0 9, Tim Williams 2-7 0-0 4, Sam Dunsmore 1-4 0-0 2, Pat Sullivan 6-9 0-1 13, C.J. Jackson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 18-40 6-10 44.

BUTLER 42

Dom Pusateri 5-8 0-2 12, Seth Cook 2-8 0-0 4, Keenan Krause 2-3 1-2 6, Zach Neudorfer 0-0 0-0 0, Arum Krause 0-0 5-6 5, Nick Patten 2-6 0-0 6, Luke Hartung 2-6 0-0 5, Luke Tincha 1-4 0-0 2, Mark Gross 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 15-36 6-10 42.

Pine-Richland 9 8 15 12—44

Butler12 5 16 9—42

3-point goals: Steliotes, Sullivan; Pusateri 2, K.Krause, Patten 2, Hartung

JV: Butler, 46-44 (B: Justice Lewandowski 14, Andrew Paterno 10; P-R: Ryan Weidman 16)

Tuesday: Butler at North Allegheny