BUTLER TWP — Rich Marnic had more than a senior moment Tuesday night.

He had a senior flurry.

The 6-foot-1 forward converted a rare four-point play, stole the ball, sank two free throws, stole the ball again to set up two Andrew Paterno free throws — all in the span of one minute.

The outburst turned a 13-point Butler lead into a 21-point bulge late in the third quarter and paved the way for a 58-41 Section 3-AAAA boys basketball win over Shaler.

“That kid is one of my favorites,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “He's really had a tough draw, with two shoulder surgeries, a couple of sprained ankles ... I started him tonight because he's finally close to completely healthy.”

He showed it on this night.

Marnic scored a season-high eight points to go with three steals. He finished off his four-point play by sinking a free throw after being fouled while sinking a trey.

“Rich was rounding into form from the 3-point line during fall ball before one of those sprained ankles set him back,” Clement said.

Marnic said that series of plays in the third quarter “felt pretty good,” primarily because of the win.

“I'm one of the guys who comes in for a burst of energy,” Marnic said. “That's what I do best. During that sequence, we went to our triangle defense to try to force some turnovers and it worked.

“I missed pretty much all of my junior year because of shoulder surgery. I had shoulder surgery in seventh grade, too. I kept playing because of the great guys in that locker room. I love being part of it, being part of the team.

“I was a manager last year when I couldn't play, just to be around it,” he added.

Butler (6-14, 3-10) had other solid performers Tuesday as well. Nick Patten scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds, blocked three shots, contributed two steals and two assists.

“Nick's been a positive performer on this team all season,” Clement said.

Justice Lewandowski sank a pair of treys in the first quarter, Paterno added one in the second. Mark Gross had eight points, four rebounds and three assists.

“Shaler beat North Hills by 16 by using an effective 3-2 zone,” Clement said. “Lewy hitting those two 3-pointers early was big.”

The Tornado trailed only once all night — 5-4 — before Lewandowski hit his first trey to give Butler the lead it never lost.

Shaler (3-17, 1-12) was held to eight field goals and 22 points in the first three quarters.

“Basketball is a game of highs and lows,” Titans coach Brian Bibey said. “When we were down 13, we needed to go on one of those highs and we didn't.

“Butler saw a chance to grab a commanding lead and they did it.”

Zach Weaver had 10 points while Jake Mathias had five rebounds and three assists for the Titans, who turned the ball over 19 times. Butler's starting unit had nine turnovers, three in the first half.

Shaler is the lowest scoring team in WPIAL Class AAAA, averaging 42.5 points per game.

“Productivity has been an issue for us all season,” Bibey said. “When we've needed that big basket to stem the tide, we haven't gotten it.”

Butler won the junior varsity game, 36-34, as Damien Pickett drove the length of the court and laid the ball in with 1.1 seconds left.

SHALER 41

Devin Spagnolo 0-1 2-2 2, Rob Reinheimer 2-2 0-0 4, Kevin Mincher 0-4 0-0 0, Tanner Reinheimer 1-1 4-4 6, Zach Weaver 3-7 4-7 10, Austin Critchlow 1-3 0-0 2, Jake Mathias 2-5 0-0 4, Brendan Deasy 2-3 1-2 6, Gavin Cannon 0-1 0-0 0, E.J. Posa 3-3 0-0 6, Nick Fugh 0-0 1-2 1, Justin Duffy 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 14-31 12-17 41.

BUTLER 58

Justice Lewandowski 2-6 0-0 6, Rich Marnic 1-2 5-5 8, Keenan Krause 1-3 1-2 3, Andrew Paterno 2-6 2-2 7, Nick Patten 4-9 5-7 13, Cory Wheeler 0-2 0-0 0, Tyler Frederick 2-3 2-2 6, Eric Hindman 2-2 0-0 4, Mark Gross 4-5 0-0 8, Kaden Rock 0-0 0-0 0, Kelly Kuharic 0-0 0-0 0, Jake Anderson 1-1 0-0 2, Jace Stutz 0-0 0-0 90, Joel Stutz 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 19-39 16-20 58.

Shaler 8 6 8 19 — 41

Butler12 15 16 15 — 58

3-point goals: Deasy; Lewandowski 2, Marnic, Paterno

JV: Butler, 36-34 (S: Tanner Reingeimer 16, Nick Fugh 10; B: Kaden Rock 9, Jake Anderson 8)

Friday: Butler at Seneca Valley