Butler girls basketball suffers first loss of season to Shaler in home opener
BUTLER TWP — Star power guarantees nothing in sports, but it comes in handy for a team when it finds itself in a tight game.
Shaler’s Reese Smetanka certainly fits the bill.
The junior guard was a bit too much for Butler girls basketball Tuesday night, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds as the Golden Tornado suffered their first loss of the season, 41-36 in their home opener.
Smetanka scored six points in the fourth quarter, which saw Butler holding a lead as late as 4:18 left. She also made all six of her free throws. The rest of Shaler’s players went a combined 4 of 13 from the stripe.
“She’s a very good player,” Butler coach Mark Maier said. “We lost her a few times, allowed her to get some rebounds and hit some 3s. When you look at it, other than (point guard) Malina McElroy, everybody else on our team is in a different position or role this season.”
Trailing 28-25 early in the fourth, Butler received a much-needed spark on offense. Back-to-back baskets from Emily Hoffer, the second set up by McElroy’s steal, gave the Tornado a one-point lead. Emily Cornish followed with a trey, her third of the night, for a 32-28 edge.
But Smetanka and Emily Berger took over from there. The former drained two free throws, and Berger was fouled while making another basket. Her attempt from the line missed, but a Shaler rebound led to Smetanka’s bucket that put the Titans up for good, 34-32 with 4:13 remaining.
While the Titans (3-1) had just one more rebound than Butler (4-1) in the game, the Tornado allowed several key offensive boards the Titans turned into points.
“We need to be strong when it comes to rebounding,” Shaler coach Tony Grenek said. “We don’t shoot the ball very well as a team.”
The Tornado will be missing a key piece for the rest of the season in junior forward Ashton Huff, who tore knee ligaments in the second game of the season. At 5-foot-11, she is the tallest player on Butler’s roster.
“Not just her height, but she was going to be our most effective inside player,” Maier said. “With her out, several players have seen their minutes increase.”
First and foremost among them is another junior forward in Campbell Clouse, who scored eight points on four baskets Tuesday. She rarely saw the varsity floor as a sophomore.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking when I found out how much I’d be playing,” Clouse said. “To be honest, I’m still shaking off the nerves. But the team has been very supportive and Ashton is giving me some helpful tips.”
Butler has one non-section game remaining, at home Saturday against McDowell, before opening WPIAL Section 1-6A play Dec. 19 at North Hills.
SHALER 41
Olivia Gieraltowski 3 0-0 7, Reese Smetanka 5 6-6 18, Allison Greygor 1 0-2 3, Emily Berger 3 3-5 9, Etta Warner 1 1-4 4, Taylor London 0 0-2 0, Bella Filo 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 10-19 41.
BUTLER 36
Malina McElroy 2 0-0 4, Campbell Clouse 4 0-0 8, Julianna Lockwood 1 0-0 2, Eva Stutz 1 2-2 5, Emily Hoffer 2 1-2 5, Emily Cornish 3 0-0 9, Payton Kamerer 1 0-0 3. Totals: 14 3-4 36.
Shaler 11 11 4 15 — 41
Butler 7 13 5 11 — 36
3-point goals: Shaler 5 (Smetanka 2, Greygor, Gieraltowski, Warner); Butler 5 (Cornish 3, Stutz, Kamerer).
Saturday: McDowell at Butler
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Butler's Jordan Ryan (43) makes a pass in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Cornish (33) makes a pass in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) tries for two in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Cornish (33) hits for two in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Hoffer (23) goes to drive the lane in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Hoffer (23) goes for a layup in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Hoffer (23) looks to pass in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Payton Kamerer (13) looks to make a pass in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) takes the ball up court in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's head coach Mark Maler yells in plays from the side line, in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) goes for a layup to score two in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) shoots for two in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Hoffer (23) goes looks to pass in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Campbell Clouse (3) goes up against Shaler's Emily Berger (22) in the tip off of a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Campbell Clouse (3) looks for an opening to take a shot in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Cornish (33 makes a pass around Shaler's Allison Greygor (13) in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Campbell Clouse (3) under the basket goes for two in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Payton Kamerer (13) looks to make a pass while being defended by Shaler's Olivia Gieraltowski (4) in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's head coach Mark Maler shows his appreciation of a good play with an applause during a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's head coach Mark Maler in the middle of the huddle, going over plays, during a timeout of a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Julianna Lockwood (5) goes up to hit three while defended by Shaler's Olivia Gieraltowski (4) in a girls basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
