Butler boys basketball eliminated from WPIAL playoffs after dramatic overtime loss to Pine-Richland

February 03, 2026 Last Updated: February 03, 2026 11:39 PM Sports

Butler’s Stainton Forbes (4) is comforted by Jaydon Wilbert (2) after a 58-55 loss against Pine-Richland in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

BUTLER TWP — A fantastic clash gave way to a harsh and abrupt ending.

After seven lead changes and four ties, including a 55-all score with under a minute to go in overtime, Butler boys basketball tried to hold onto the ball for the final shot of the period. But Stainton Forbes lost his footing on the Tuffy the Tornado midcourt logo trying to work his way out of a Pine-Richland trap with 15 seconds remaining.

With the Rams’ Doolin Stober and Nico Aiello reaching for the ball as he sat on the floor, Forbes instinctively called for a timeout his team didn’t have.

Pine-Richland’s Brooklyn Becker knocked down a pair of free throws following the required technical foul, then Stober was fouled after snaring the ensuing inbound pass. He tacked one more free throw on the scoreboard before Butler’s tying try caromed off the rim.

The Golden Tornado were eliminated from playoff contention with the 58-55 home boys hoops loss.

“It’s unfortunate the way it ended,” Butler head coach Matt Clement said afterward. “You hate to see a tough game like that end like that, but that’s the rules. That’s part of it. ... It’s not fun being in these situations, but that’s on me. I take full responsibility for us and our record and where we are. I wish it could be better, and I wanted it for those guys tonight.”

On senior night, Jaydon Wilbert (five points) helped push the Rams (11-9, 7-5 WPIAL Section 1-6A) to overtime by sinking a shot with 1:30 remaining. Andrew Gettinger leveled the scoreboard at 48 with a pair of free throws 45 ticks later.

Gettinger’s performance — a 27-point, 13-rebound effort while defending the 6-foot-9 Stober — was “as good a game as he’s played all year,” Clement said.

Butler’s Andrew Gettinger (35) passes the ball in a boys basketball game against Pine Richland Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Forbes added 14 points and 11 boards, showing up in the way his coach had hoped after Butler (6-13, 4-9 WPIAL Section 1-6A) lost at Seneca Valley last Friday night.

Clement called Forbes “the heart and soul of our team.”

“It’s a shame that it ended that way, but we pump him up,” Clement said. “We aren’t the team we are without him. ... His best days are ahead of him in basketball.”

The all-around effort was what Clement had been waiting to see all campaign.

“I needed to find a way to make us play that hard — that smart and hard, we play hard — every game,” Clement said. “I think some of it was just getting experience, and the smarts came from getting experience. You’re starting to see some guys starting to figure it out right now. It’s tough being that way.

“It stings when you fought so hard.”

Wilbert was proud of his side’s fight.

“They (Pine-Richland) beat New Castle. They beat the top seed (in the upcoming playoffs),” he said. “We ended up keeping it close, taking it to OT with them. ... It was a great game.”

Butler finishes its season against Fox Chapel on Friday night.

Butler’s Tobias Geibel (0) looks for an opening in a boys basketball game against Pine-Richland Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Andrew Gettinger (35) shoots a 3-pointer over Pine-Richland’s Doolin Stober (0) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Stainton Forbes (4) dunks the ball in a boys basketball game against Pine Richland Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Andrew Gettinger (35) passes the ball in a boys basketball game against Pine-Richland Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw