SHALER TWP — Things aren’t always better the second time around.

Just ask the Butler girls basketball team.

The Golden Tornado started the season 7-2 overall and beat section foes Oakland Catholic and Shaler the first time they met.

Shaler, though, used a 30-0 run that covered most of the second quarter and the first five minutes of the third and cruised to a 65-30 win over Butler Friday night.

Since the fast start to the season, the Tornado are 1-6.

“That second half of the season, everyone knows you,” said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. “Everyone knows your players and you have to make adjustments. You can’t just be a boomerang. We got away with just two players scoring and an another one here and there. In the beginning of the season, you can get away with that.”

But not in the second half, Epps said.

Butler beat Shaler 51-50 two weeks ago, but after a good start, we never in the game in this meeting.

Lauren Bresnahan made a layup to cut the Shaler lead to 16-15 with 6:40 remaining in the second quarter.

The Titans scored the next 16 points of the half to take a 32-15 lead into halftime and then started the third quarter with 14 consecutive points for a 48-15 advantage.

Kelsee Callihan broke the streak with a 3-pointer.

“They wanted the game and they played well,” Epps said. “We didn’t play with the intensity we needed to play with.”

Julia Baxter scored 24 points against Shaler in the first meeting. The Titans were determined to not let that happen again.

Shaler surrounded Baxter in the paint, bracketing her with forwards and using its quick guards to deny her the ball. Baxter finished with just three points. More disturbing was the fact she managed just five shots.

Foul trouble had something to do with that. Baxter sat for much of the second quarter after picking up her second foul.

That’s when Shaler began its prodigious run.

“When Julia got the second foul, that puts us in a bad position,” Epps said. “But one player shouldn’t control so much of your game. Someone else has to step up. She’s played phenomenal all season long. At some point, she was going to get into foul trouble.”

Shaler coach Neal Martin said he was thrilled with the way his team bounced back from the earlier loss to Butler.

“That was probably one of our best outings all year,” Martin said. “That was a tough, tough loss up in Butler and we wanted to make sure we were mentally prepared and have the mindset to go out and play a team like this. I’m proud of our kids.”

Andi Lydon scored 18 points and Liz Kline added 12 to pace the Titans (14-4, 7-3). Kalynn Callihan scored eight points to lead Butler.

The loss all but eliminated Butler from playoff contention. The Golden Tornado have two section games remaining.

“I think we needed to win all three,” Epps said.

Now, Butler (8-8, 3-7) is shooting for closing the season out strong.

“It’s disappointing,” Epps said. “I’m sure the girls are disappointed, too. Our program is used to getting to the playoffs. We just have to close out the season well and get the winning record. That’s our goal now.”

BUTLER 30

Alyssa DiPippa 2-9 0-0 4 Dani Hensel 1-3 0-0 2, Kalynn Callihan 3-11 0-0 8, Laura Bresnahan 2-2 2-3 6, Julia Baxter 1-5 1-3 3, Tiana Schaffner 1-5 0-0 2, Ronni Guiney 1-2 0-0 2, Paige Lambermont 0-1 0-0 0, Kelsee Callihan 1-2 0-0 3, Christina Friel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-40 3-6 30.

SHALER 65

Paige Quinn 3-5 1-2 9, Liz Kline 6-8 0-0 12, C.J. Harris 3-4 0-0 6, Andi Lydon 8-10 2-3 18, Abbey Conrad 2-8 2-4 7, Allya Duritza 1-2 0-0 2, Rylee Donovan 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Long 1-1 0-0 2, Jacey Schott 0-0 0-0 0, Chelsea Bauer 2-2 0-0 4, Kayla Seidl 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Soeder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 28-45 5-9 65.

Butler 11 4 7 7 — 30

Shaler14 18 16 17 — 65

3-point goals: Butler 3 (Ka. Callihan 2, Ke. Callihan); Shaler 4 (Quinn 2, Lydon, Conrad)

JV: Shaler 46-16

Monday: North Hills at Butler