BUTLER TWP — The numbers don't add up. But the final score did.

Shaler scored two points in the second quarter, missed 22 of its first 26 shots, managed one field goal over a 12-minute stretch, sank only 10 field goals all night and missed 10 free throws in the second half.

Yet the Titans managed to escape Butler with a 37-32 boys basketball victory Tuesday night.

"I'm just glad to get out of here with a win," Shaler coach Howie Ruppert said.

His team had to scrap for it. The 37 points scored were a season-low for the Titans.

When Butler's Nick Martini sank a 3-pointer with 6:54 left in the third quarter, the Golden Tornado (12-9, 5-6) had a 23-11 lead and Shaler's offense was going nowhere.

"In a big game like this, you need warriors," Ruppert said. "John Litwin only scored two points all night, but he controlled their big guy (Jade Burka) down low.

"Somebody had to start scoring us some points. Matt Davis did that for us."

Davis ended that 12-minute Shaler scoring drought when he stuck back an offensive rebound with 4:45 left in the third period. He scored 10 consecutive points for the Titans to pull them within 25-21 with 1:17 remaining.

Eddie Sauer drained a trey and the third quarter ended with Butler clinging to a 25-24 advantage.

The Tornado attempted only three shots and had six turnovers in the third quarter.

"We had too many empty possessions," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "We turned it over four straight times at one point.

"In a low-scoring game like this, each possession is critical."

Butler had three turnovers in the first half, but gave it away 12 times in the final two quarters.

"We played zone in the first half and gave up too many good shots," Ruppert said. "Our guys were in a bit of a lull.

"In the second half, we switched to man-to-man and created some momentum."

The Titans also put Butler's offense on ice.

The Tornado managed only two field goals during a 13-minute stretch in the second half. When Craig Devinney sank a trey with 6:22 left in the game, Shaler (11-9, 6-5) had its first lead of the night at 28-27.

It was a lead the Titans wouldn't lose.

Litwin added a layup for his only points before Shaler's final seven points came at the foul line. Rich Miller drained two free throws with 1:25 to go and Sauer converted a pair with 1:12 left, hiking the Titans' advantage to 36-27 and sealing the victory.

The 32 points scored by Butler marked the team's second-lowest production of the season. The Tornado dropped a 52-26 decision to Pine-Richland Dec. 16 on a night they had three starters out of the lineup.

"Shaler made some big plays down the stretch," Lewandowski said. "They made it a possession game, and that's what it takes to win that type of game."

Davis had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Titans, who were outboarded 36-21.

Martini paced Butler with nine points, all on 3-pointers. Burka had 12 rebounds and Fleeger eight, but the Tornado had 15 turnovers to Shaler's five.

The loss drops Butler out of playoff position with three section games remaining.

"We didn't take care of the basketball and that's uncharacteristic of us," Lewandowski said. "This is crunch time now in the section."

SHALER 37

Eddie Sauer 1-3 4-7 7, Matt Davis 4-12 6-10 15, Craig Devinney 2-9 2-4 7, Chris Titterington 0-0 0-0 0, Derek McQuade 2-3 0-0 4, John Litwin 1-2 0-0 2, Rich Miller 0-5 2-4 2. Totals: 10-34 14-25 37

BUTLER 32

Noah Hartung 2-9 0-0 4, Cody Fleeger 1-3 2-2 4, Nick Martini 3-6 0-0 9, Alan Jackson 1-4 0-0 2, Blake Anderson 4-9 0-2 8, Jade Burka 2-7 1-1 5, Aaron Dorondo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-38 3-9 32

3-point goals:

Sauer, Davis, Devinney; Martini 3

JV:

Butler, 37-32 (B-Matt Maloy 11, S-Dan Wirkowski 12)

Friday:

Butler @ Seneca Valley