BUTLER TWP — Butler girls basketball coach Mark Maier said he doesn't want to live and die by the 3-pointer.

But the living was pretty good against section foe Shaler Monday night.

The Golden Tornado hit eight of their nine 3-pointers in the first half in building a 32-17 lead and cruised to a 46-28 home victory.

“Shoot good, coach good,” Maier said, smiling. “If you're making them and they're good shots in the context of the offense, take them. I think we are a good shooting team.”

Junior forward Jordan Kauffman was taking them — and making them.

Kauffman hit four of those 3-pointers in the first half, added another in the second half and finished with a game-high 15 points.

“Last year she almost had a little bit of a windup and people could defend it,” Maier said. “She worked on that. I'll take no credit for it. She gets it off so much quicker.”

Kauffman's shooting touch was contagious for the Tornado (3-2, 1-1), who shot a shade under 50 percent in the game.

Emilee Altman hit a pair of 3-pointers and Sydney Hanratty and Hailey Metzger also hit from deep.

When Shaler adjusted, that's when Julia Gibson did her damage inside.

The senior center finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. She also made good decisions in the high post and finished with a handful of assists.

“She had a bunch of assists,” Maier said. “She was effective. “Most post players get it and they want to turn and go. She's the most unselfish player.”

Butler, though, had a tougher time getting its offense to click in the second half.

The Titans adjusted and held the Tornado to a mere 14 points in the second half.

It didn't matter. Butler's defense was consistent throughout.

The Tornado did a solid job in particular as Shaler star guard Emily Cavacini, who scored 18 points in a loss to North Allegheny last week.

Cavacini was held to four points in 2-of-9 shooting.

“It was collective,” Maier said. “Emilee (Altman) guarded her predominantly, but it wasn't Emilee against their Emily. It was us against them. We helped out on screens and we made it tough on her.”

It was a tough night all around for Shaler, which has struggled scoring points this season.

The Titans (0-5, 0-2) are averaging just 30.6 points per game.

“It just becomes a confidence thing — can you make shots,” said Shaler coach Cornelious Nesbit. “Sometimes kids are worried about missing instead of just shooting the basketball. Sometimes we go through lulls of putting the basketball through the hoop.”

Tia Bozzo led Shaler with nine points as the Titans didn't crack double figures in any quarter and were held to 11 points in the second half.

“We're learning and we're trying to figure this thing out on the fly,” Nesbit said. “I think we'll get better as the season goes.”

Butler was given a lift by the return to the bench of senior Heidi Gross, who just a week ago was taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering head and neck injuries.

Gross still cannot move her head because of muscle and ligament damage to her neck, but was on the bench, a smile on her face.

She also suffered a severe concussion in the collision Dec. 11.

“It was traumatic,” Maier said of Gross' injury last week. “I'm looking over at the bench (last week) and our girls are crying and I'm tearing up. It put it all in perspective. She's tough, a great kid and well-liked. She came today and all the varsity was giving her hugs. She was captain — I talk to the refs to see if she could be the captain even though she wasn't in the book and they said no worries. It was a nice lift.”

SHALER 28

Tia Bozzo 4-12 0-0 9, Emily Cavacini 2-9 0-0 4, Meghan Lacey 3-12 0-0 6, Payten Harrison 1-3 0-0 2, Emilee Miller 1-2 0-0 2, Audrey Fisher 1-4 0-0 2, Haley Sahr 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 13-44 1-2 28.

BUTLER 46

Julia Gibson 4-5 3-5 11, Jordan Kauffman 5-8 0-0 15, Emma Monteleone 0-5 0-0 0, Sydney Hanratty 2-5 0-0 5, Emilee Altman 3-7 0-0 8, Hailey Metzger 1-3 0-0 3, Ali Altman 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 17-35 3-5 46.

Shaler 9 8 7 4 — 28

Butler18 14 8 6 — 46

3-point goals: Shaler 1 (Bozzo), Butler 9 (Kauffman 5, Hanratty, E. Altman 2, Metzger)

JV: Butler 50-20

Thursday: Butler at Pine-Richland