BUTLER TWP — It wasn't pretty, but the Butler girls basketball team didn't need to win any beauty contests with its play Monday night.

Rather, the Golden Tornado had to find a way to beat visiting Shaler — and they did.

Alyssa DiPippa scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Butler outlasted the Titans, 44-41.

The victory places Butler (6-10, 3-4) just a half game behind Shaler (12-4, 4-4) for the final playoff spot from Section 3-AAAA.

“The girls were just excellent tonight,” said Golden Tornado coach Dorothea Epps. “Everybody contributed in one way or another and they stayed focused into the overtime. They didn't give up and I'm proud of the girls.”

The game was tied at 41 following a basket from Shaler's Liz Kline with just over a minute left in the extra period.

Butler then took 25 seconds off the clock before calling a timeout. Afterward, DiPippa drove the lane with 10 seconds left, laid in her final field goal of the night and was fouled with 7.9 seconds remaining. She missed the free throw, but teammate Julia Baxter corralled a huge rebound and was also fouled. She drained one of her two shots for a three-point lead before Shaler's Andi Lydon misfired on a desperation heave from halfcourt as time expired.

Butler's defense held the Titans to no more than 11 points in any quarter, including just four points in the third period. Shaler ended the game making just 36 percent (16-of-44) of its chances from the floor as the team dropped its third straight section decision.

“We played hard, but at this time of the season, teams are at their best,” said Shaler coach Neal Martin. “I thought we lost our composure down the stretch and we just got beat.”

DiPippa had scored just two points over the first three periods, but she sank a basket that gave Butler its first lead of the second half at 28-26 with 5:31 left in the game. She added five more points before the end of regulation, including a free throw that tied the game at 35 with 1:10 remaining. It would prove to be the final point scored by either team before overtime.

“She was a bit hesitant earlier in the game,” Epps said of DiPippa. “We talked to her about getting into the paint because Shaler was leaving it open.”

Crunch time suited DiPippa well, which came as no surprise to the 5-foot-5 senior guard.

“I like playing under pressure,” she said. “I think it's easier to play well. But I was trying to be careful on defense because I had four fouls.”

Lydon was the catalyst for the Titans, scoring 18 points, including a pair of baskets in overtime. No other Shaler player scored more than seven points.

“We would like to have someone solidify that role as a second scorer,” Martin said, “but it seems to be someone different every game.”

Baxter scored 13 points for the Golden Tornado and Jenna Kunst added 10.

In the teams' first meeting this season Dec. 15, Shaler defeated Butler 43-28.

“When we play each other, it always seems to be a defensive battle,” said Epps. “Several of our games with them have gone into overtime.”

Butler is right back in the thick of the WPIAL playoff chase, though the road gets no easier. The Golden Tornado visit second-place Pine-Richland on Thursday.

“I think this win can give us more confidence and energy for the rest of the season,” DiPippa said. SHALER 41

Rylee Donovan 2 0-0 4, Liz Kline 2 3-4 7, Gia Thorpe 3 0-0 7, Emily Ondo 2 1-1 5, Andi Lydon 7 3-5 18, Maggie Soeder 0 0-0 0, Alliya Duritza 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 7-10 41.

BUTLER 44

Alyssa DiPippa 5 5-8 15, Dani Hensel 0 2-2 2, Kalynn Callihan 1 0-0 2, Jenna Kunst 3 4-4 10, Julia Baxter 5 3-4 13, Kailey Olenick 1 0-0 2, Mia Rader 0 0-0 0, Melea Barlow 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 14-18 44.

Shaler 9 11 4 11 6 — 41

Butler8 8 6 13 9 — 44

3-point goals: Shaler 2 (Thorpe, Lydon).

Thursday: Butler at Pine-Richland