Rams earn repeat in the highest class

“He’s really been playing well in the playoffs,” Ackermann said of Shulkosky. “It’s like pick your poison with us.”

Jurkovec said, “Coach tells us that we have a Big Three but if we’re going to win, someone else always has to come through.”

Jurkovec already has committed to Notre Dame to play quarterback in football. But he proved once again how valuable he is in basketball. Besides his 21 points, he grabbed 10 rebounds.

“I think they made shots and some big shots, and that was the difference,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “But Jurkovec won the game, let’s be honest. It’s not just his points, but he kept cleaning up everything on the glass, moved the ball, passed. It really is amazing he does what he does for someone that doesn’t play basketball full time.”

Petcash also was big for Pine-Richland in the second half. The first half was nip and tuck with seven lead changes, and the teams went into the break tied, 29-29. Pine-Richland had to feel fortunate because Petcash missed about half of the second quarter with two fouls and made only 2 of 9 shots in the first two quarters.

In the second half, he made 6 of 7 shots and scored 14 of his 18 points.

“Coach got on me a little at halftime,” Petcash sid. “He said, ‘This is a big game so are you going to quit or fight through it?’ ”

Petcash took the choice.

Butler actually had a 45-43 lead late in the third quarter, but Shulkosky scored on a drive and a 3-pointer to put Pine-Richland ahead for good.

Butler freshman point guard Ethan Morton showed poise and talent once again, scoring a team-high 17 points while being guarded the entire game by Jurkovec. Morton’s three-point play brought Butler within 61-57 with 2:43 left in the game, but Butler didn’t have a field goal the rest of the game.

Pine-Richland now moves on to the PIAA playoffs and will play Latrobe in a firstround game Saturday. Butler plays Canon-McMillan. latter