BUTLER TWP — Seneca Valley turned up the pressure — and turned off Butler's WPIAL playoff hopes.

The Raiders held a one-point lead at halftime of their Section 3-AAAA girls basketball game at Butler Friday night before dominating the third quarter en route to a 56-44 victory.

SV (11-9, 6-6) outscored the Golden Tornado (7-14, 4-8) 22-5 in that pivotal third period.

“What we did at halftime was change our defense to full-court pressure,” Raiders coach Rob Lombardo said. “Our defense was solid in the first half, but we weren't getting anything in transition.

“Most of our offense comes from transition. Our best offensive play is rebound, outlet pass and go.”

Off they went in the third quarter.

A 17-16 halftime lead ballooned to 37-21 in the first six minutes of the second half. Butler managed only three field goal attempts and turned the ball over 13 times in the third period.

“That's the ballgame right there,” Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. “Turnovers have hurt us all year. We couldn't handle their pressure.”

The loss eliminated Butler from playoff consideration. The Tornado would have reached the postseason with a win Friday.

The Raiders' lead peaked at 45-25 with 6:08 to play. The Tornado pulled within 11 at 47-36 with 3:47 to go, but got no closer.

“Our girls never quit. They fought to the end. That's all I can ask of them,” Epps said. “I'm proud of their effort.”

Michaela Lamont paced SV off the bench with 15 points, four steals and four rebounds. Sophomore Erin Danik contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.

The Raiders shot only 29 percent from the field.

It didn't matter.

“Coach wanted us to be more aggressive in the second half,” Danik said. “When the shooting's off, we have to pound the boards and play tight defense to give ourselves opportunities.”

Melissa Carter added 11 points and four boards for SV, which held a 38-24 edge in rebounding.

“We rarely get out-rebounded ... and we shouldn't,” Lombardo said.

The teams combined for 53 turnovers — 31 by Butler — and there were 21 jump balls.

“These are two teams that really get after it,” Lombardo said. “There is mutual respect between these two programs. Both teams play hard.

“This is tough. This is the fourth time Dorothea and I have met in a game where one team could knock the other out of the playoffs. It's hard. Five or six teams from our section deserve to go.”

Julia Baxter paced Butler with 15 points and eight rebounds. Alyssa DiPippa scopred 11 points, had five assists and three steals. She scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter.

“We want to build momentum for the playoffs,” Daniik said. “Hopefully, this game and our next two will give that to us.”

Butler honored its seven seniors — Baxter, DiPippa, Kalynn Callihan, Nienke Dirkx, Christina Friel, Ronni Guiney and Dani Hensel — before the game.

Friday marked the Tornado's final home game of the season.

SENECA VALLEY 56

Michaela LaMont 4-14 6-9 15, Shaley Bream 0-1 0-0 0, Christina Dunning 1-6 2-4 4, Meghan Hess 0-3 0-1 0, Paige Montrose 1-4 2-2 4, Melissa Carter 3-5 5-8 11, Erin Danik 2-14 9-10 14, Maggie Maloney 0-0 0-0 0, Caolyn Palaski 4-4 0-0 8, Brooke Lyczek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-52 24-34 56.

BUTLER 44

Mia Rader 0-0 0-0 0, Alyssa DiPippa 3-6 5-6 11, Melea Barlow 0-0 0-0 0, Ronni Guiney 0-0 0-0 0, Dani Hensel 1-3 1-2 3, Kalynn Callihan 1-4 0-0 3, Jenna Kunst 3-5 1-3 7, Julia Baxter 7-12 1-1 15, Kailey Olenick 1-3 3-4 5, Nienke Dirkx 0-0 0-0 0, Christina Friel 0- 0-0 0. Totals: 16-33 11-16 44.

Seneca Valley 7 10 22 17 — 56

Butler7 9 5 23 — 44

3-point goals: LaMont, Danik; Callihan

JV: seneca Valley, 48-26 (SV: Toni Augustine 13; B: Mia Rader 6, Friel 6)

Saturday: Allderdice at Seneca Valley

Tuesday: Butler at Franklin Regional