BUTLER TWP — In terms of playoff preparation, Butler got what it wanted

Just not on the scoreboard.

Senior guards Ali Collins and Layrn Edwards scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, Monday night in leading Hampton to a 52-48 regular season-closing girls basketball victory over the Golden Tornado.

“Those two are outstanding players,” Butler coach Mark Maier said. “We did all we could to stop them and try to make somebody else beat us.

“Both teams tried hard tonight. Their try was a little better than our try, and I don't mean anything negative about that.”

The score was tied seven times — the last at 34-34 midway through the third period — and the Talbots' biggest lead of the night was eight points at 27-19.

While Hampton (18-4) led most of the night, the Talbots did not put the game away until Collins drained two free throws with 19 seconds left for a four-point lead.

“This was a good way to close the regular season,” Hampton coach Tony Howard said. “We were pushed physically, we were pushed mentally. And we got a lot of girls in the game.”

Edwards is headed to Loyola (Md.) while Collins is going to Seton Hill next year for college basketball. Both are three-year starters.

“They've made me look like a much better coach than I am,” Howard said.

The Tornado (13-9) trailed by two points when point guard Mia Rader fouled out with 5:25 remaining.

“That was my fault,” Maier said. “I knew she had four fouls, but I was trying to go one more possession before taking her out.

“Mia didn't want to foul out in her last home game. That's on me. I screwed up. But Sydney (Hanratty) and Emma (Monteleone) got a lot of minutes at the point tonight and did a good job of holding us in there.”

Jenna Kunst paced Butler with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Alyssa Eyth added 14 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter.

Maier said he's hopeful of getting the seventh-seed at Tuesday night's WPIAL playoff meeting.

“We should be somewhere in the middle there,” he said. “It's going to be exciting. This is what you do all the open gyms and preparation for ... playoff fever.”

Collins had three steals and three assists to go with her 23 points for Hampton. Edwards had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Talbots were co-section champion of Section 4-5A this season.

Butler committed 10 turnovers in the first half, 14 for the night.

“We normally press a lot, but we didn't do that tonight,” Howard said. “I didn't want to wear us out too much, but this was a good win.”

HAMPTON 52

Layrn Edwards 7-17 5-7 22, Kate Schmitt 0-1 0-0 0, Ali Collins 5-18 10-12 23, Olivia Bianco 0-2 -0-0 0, Maddie Stevens 0-0 0-0 0, Julia Powers 1-1 0-2 3, Alisha Januck 0-1 0-0 0, Natalie Rydzak 0-1 0-0 0, Brooke Fuller 2-5 0-0 4. Totals: 15-46 15-21 52.

BUTLER 48

Nicople Pepmeyer 1-3 0-0 3, Mia Rader 1-3 0-0 2, Alyssa Eytgh 5-10 4-4 14, JordanKauffman 1-7 1-2 4, Emma Monteleone 0-2 0-0 0, Jenna Kunst 8-11 6-7 22, Sydney Hanratty 1-2 0-0 3, Julia Gibson 0-3 0-2 0,, Emilee Altman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-43 11-16 48.

Hampton 17 10 9 16 — 52

Butler15 8 12 13 — 48

3-point goals: Edwaerds 3, Collins 3, Powers; Pepmeyer, Kauffman, Hanratty

JV: Butler, 35-21 (H: Katie Baker 6; B: Jordan Kauffman 15, Sydney Hanratty 10

Next: WPIAL playoffs