Butler girls improve defense despite loss
BUTLER TWP — Butler girls basketball coach Dorothea Epps saw what her team can do on defense when it puts forth a game-long effort.
Now she's hoping that the Golden Tornado's offense can get a similar boost.
Butler limited Oakland Catholic to 44 points Monday, but that was more than enough for the Eagles to post a 44-28 section victory.
“We wanted to try and keep them down a little, to slow them down,” said Epps. “They drove a lot on us the last game (a 54-34 Eagles win Jan. 13).
“On the defensive end, we were fine. The offensive end, we just couldn't score. If you play defense like that, you can stay in the game. That's what we've been aiming for,” she added.
Oakland Catholic (13-8, 9-2) used seven 3-pointers — including four in the first quarter — to take a 14-5 lead.
The Eagles' Ally Schmidt capped the stretch with consecutive 3-pointers that quickly turned a three-point lead into a nine-point edge.
Butler (3-16, 1-10) received a free throw from Shelby Johnston, then she added a basket to open the second quarter that pulled the Tornado to 14-8.
However, Oakland Catholic scored the next eight points, including four by Bobbi Baker, to take a commanding 22-8 lead with 1:54 left before halftime.
The Eagles built a 19-points advantage with 2:34 left in the third period, but Butler held the Eagles to seven points in the third quarter.
Butler scored 10 of the next 15 points to make it 36-22, but never cut the deficit into the single digits.
“I think this did open their eyes,” Epps noted. “We can't give up 60 points a game and win. We want to try and finish the season strong.”
Caitlin Baxter led Butler with 10 points and Johnston had nine points. The Eagles got 10 points from Baker and nine apiece from Jess Mrdjenovich, a Mars resident, and Schmidt
Notes: Butler honored its two seniors — Johnston and Ali Houk — before the game. ... The Eagles connected on nine-of-18 shots in the first half while Butler was four-of-16. ... Butler did not have a 3-pointer or convert a 3-point play. The Tornado misfired on 13 of 23 free-throw attempts.
OAKLAND CATHOLIC 44Jess Mrdjenovich 4 0-0 9, Ally Schmidt 3 1-5 9, Bobbi Baker 4 0-0 10, Chrissy Berenato 1 0-0 3, Nicole Johnson 1 2-2 4, Mara Fitzgerald 1 0-0 2, Corey Taglianetti 1 0-0 2, Alexis Restori 0 0-0 0, Rachel Vigliotti 0 0-0 0, Erin Lavery 2 0-0 5, Marissa Polk 0 0-0 0, Iffie Uwazie 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 17 3-7 44.
BUTLER 28Samantha Marak 0 0-0 0, Jasmine Bailey 1 0-4 2, Shelby Johnston 4 1-5 9, Ali Houk 0 2-2 2, Caitlin Baxter 2 6-8 10, Natalie Barkus 0 0-2 0, Morgan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, MacKenzie O'Donnell 2 1-2 5, Emily Eyth 0 0-0 0, Lauren Bresnahan 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 9 10-23 28.
Oakland Catholic 14 10 7 13—44Butler 6 4 6 12—283-point goals: Oakland Catholic 7 (Schmidt 2, Baker 2, Mrdjenovich, Berenato, Lavery); Butler 0.
JV: Oakland Catholic, 45-30
Thursday: Butler at Seneca Valley
