BUTLER TWP — Inside. Outside. Defense. Rebounding.

Everything was working for the Butler girls basketball team Monday night at home against Uniontown.

If there is a recipe for success for the Golden Tornado in this newly minted season, it was cooked up in a 62-39 win over the Raiders.

“This is what we are going to have to do to win,” said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. “There were so many girls who contributed in so many ways. This was as good of a team effort as we've ever had.”

Mackenzie O'Donnell scored 17 points, most coming in the paint. Jennifer Barry scored 16 and hit four 3-pointers and Sam Marak scored all 12 of her points in the first half for Butler.

The Tornado trailed after the first quarter, but closed the half on an 8-0 run to take a 29-21 lead at the break.

After Uniontown (2-1) scored the first basket of the third quarter, Butler scored the next 16 points and cruised to the win.

“They came out like gangbusters,” Epps said. “We just got solid play from everybody and we didn't turn the ball over as much.”

Butler (2-1) also showed the grit that has been its hallmark.

The Tornado were particularly good on the boards, getting rebounds from its guards and played solid defense, limiting the Raiders to just a 35-percent shooting night from the floor.

Meanwhile, Butler shot 51 percent from the field.

Barry was 6-of-8, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc.

Marak, the point guard who didn't attempt a shot in the loss Saturday to Hopewell, was 4-of-5.

“She can score. She can hit shots,” Epps said of Marak. “She's so important to us because she's running that one, and she's not a natural (point guard). That position is extremely hard and she's doing a nice job.”

Lydya Dennis led Uniontown with 13 points.

Makenzie Huey added nine points off the bench for Butler.

It was also an emotional night for the Tornado.

Junior Caitlin Baxter, who is out for the year with a torn ACL, got the symbolic start.

Baxter, who will undergo reconstructive surgery Wednesday, was fighting to play Monday, but doctors would not release her.

Instead, she had to settle for running out onto the court when she was announced in the starting lineup.

She played a grand total of 3 seconds. Butler won the opening tip, but Marak deliberately dribbled the ball out of bounds so Baxter could be removed from the game.

“It was an emotional night with Cait,” Epps said. “I feel like they wanted to go out and do it for her.

“It was so important to her,” Epps added. “If you aren't an athlete and have never been through anything like that, you don't know. It is the most frustrating thing to not be able to play. She's worked so hard and she deserves it. I know it meant the world to her.”

UNIONTOWN 39Jordan Crutchman 0-1 0-0 0, Lydya Dennis 4-10 3-4 13, Jazmin Belt 4-11 0-0 9, Danasha Harris 3-8 3-4 9, Jessy Madison 2-4 2-4 6, Kishauna Rose 0-3 0-0 0, Tyeisha Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Annissia Mosley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 14-40 8-12 39.

BUTLER 62Caitlin Baxter 0-0 0-0 0, Jennifer Barry 6-8 0-1 16, Jasmine Bailey 1-5 0-0 2, Mackenzie O'Donnell 7-13 3-6 17, Makenzie Huey 3-5 2-3 9, Sam Marak 4-5 4-4 12, Natalie Barkus 1-2 0-0 2, Alyssa DiPippa 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan McLaughlin 0-1 0-2 0, Julia Baxter 1-6 2-3 4, Kaylynn Callihan 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 23-45 11-19 62.

Uniontown 11 10 4 14—39Butler 10 19 16 17—623-point goals: Uniontown 3 (Dennis 2, Belt); Butler 5 (Barry 4, Huey).

Friday: North Hills at Butler