BUTLER TWP — Having endured 10 lead changes and six ties through three quarters Friday night, Butler needed some separation.

The free throw line provided it.

The Golden Tornado (4-2) girls basketball team entered the fourth quarter tied at 41 with Charters Valley in the first round of the Butler Christmas Tournament. Butler sank 13 of 14 free throws in the final eight minutes to claim a 61-54 victory.

“That was the difference,” Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. “We talk about foul shooting with the girls a lot. They can provide separation in a game like this and they did tonight.

“And if we're going to win, we're going to win games like this.”

The Tornado practice free trow shooting — a lot.

“We take anywhere from 30 to 40 free throws each day at practice,” junior forward Julia Baxter said. “We saw that pay off tonight.”

Baxter's play paid some nice dividends as well.

She dominated play inside, scoring 23 points — many off offensive rebounds — and grabbing 20 boards. The Tornado held a 41-23 advantage on the glass.

The visiting Colts (1-6) played without 6-foot-4 senior center Kristin McGeough, who suffered an ankle injury last week.

“She (Baxter) did a good job of taking advantage of us not having a big girl in there,” Chartiers Valley coach Ashley Battle said. “She dominated. We had no answer for her.”

Epps said Baxter recognizes the need for her to be a leader this season.

“When she works hard, she can be a monster out there,” the Butler coach said. “She is very capable of games like this.”

Baxter agreed.

“I'm playing with a lot more confidence this year,” she said.

Despite losing their fifth straight game, the Colts hung around most of the night. Butler did not muster a double-digit lead until Danielle Hensel sank two free throws for a 61-51 edge with 21.8 seconds left.

Chartiers Valley's biggest lead was 11-4 with 4:15 left in the first quarter.

Senior guard Jenna Devinney did the damage for the Colts, sinking six treys and scoring 26 points. Freshman guard Jamie Neary had four steals as Butler withstood 20 turnovers.

“I'm a first-year coach and the girls are adjusting to a new system,” Battle said. “We're coming along. We're improving.

“We played a strong game tonight. But, sometimes, you battle hard, put the other team in the line and hope they miss. They didn't miss.”

Alyssa DiPippa had 12 points and three steals for the Tornado while Hensel had 11 points and six rebounds. Butler took 24 shots in the third period, but sank just five of them.

“We were getting shots. They just weren't falling,” Epps said.

The Tornado will take on undefeated Vincentian (7-0) — a 57-50 winner over Bishop Canevin — in the tourney title game Saturday night.

Cranberry Township resident Brenna Wise paced the Royals with 25 points. Vincentian fell behind 29-24 early in the third period before going on a 16-0 run.

Bishop Canevin got as close as 51-47 with 1:21 remaining before succumbing. Becca Turney led the Crusaders (7-2) with 15 points.

“Facing an undefeated team should give our girls plenty of motivation,” Epps said. “You want to be able to knock them off on your home floor.”

CHARTIERS VALLEY 54

Lauren Herron 2-7 0-2 4, Jenna Devinney 9-18 2-3 26, Libby Schneider 5-10 0-2 10, Maura Malone 1-1 0-0 2, Jamie Neary 2-5 0-0 4, Abbey Collins 0-2 1-2 1, Karly O'Keefe 1-2 0-0 3, Katie Doyle 0-1 0-0 0, Annie Pocella 2-5 0-0 4, Jill Stefaniak 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-51 3-9 54.

BUTLER 61

Alyssa DiPippa 3-10 6-6 12, Ronni Guinery 0-4 1-2 1, Danielle Hensel 3-5 4-4 11, Kalynn Callihan 2-12 2-3 7, Lauren Bresnahan 1-2 3-5 5, Julia Baxter 9-16 5-6 23, Tiana Schaffner 0-3 0-0 0, Paige Lambermont 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 19-53 21-26 61.

Char Valley 13 16 12 13—54

Butler14 12 15 20—61

3-point goals: Devinney 6, O'Keefe; Hensel, Callihan

JV: Chartiers Valley, 66-16 (CV: Abbey Collins 17, Angelina Dipardo 15; B: Paige Lambermont 11)

Saturday: Championship Game-Butler vs. Vincentian, 6:30 p.m.

VINCENTIAN 57

Torrieonna Cash 2 3-6 7, Kayla Key 2 1-3 5, Ally Bartoszewicz 4 1-2 10, Maia Joiner 3 0-1 6, Brenna Wise 8 9-11 25, Kiersten Elliot 2 0-1 4, Julia Galbraith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 14-24 57.

BISHOP CANEVIN 50

Caroline DeFrank 2 1-2 6, Riley O'Donnell 0 2-2 2, Johnie Olkosky 4 4-4 13, Gina Vallecorsa 5 1-2 11, Becca Turney 6 3-3 15, Erin Joyce 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 11-13 50.

Vincentian 13 11 19 14—57

Bishop Canevin6 16 9 19—50

3-point goals: Bartoszewicz; DeFrank, Oljkosky, Joyce

Saturday: Consolation Game-Chartiers Valley vs. Bishop Canevin, 5 p.m.