BUTLER TWP — Monday night's girls basketball clash between Seneca Valley and Butler became a game of cat and mouse.

The Raiders made things interesting, but never did catch their prey.

SV trailed Butler 17-3 late in the first quarter and spent the rest of the contest playing catch-up in a 45-34 victory for the Golden Tornado — their first section win of the season.

Butler (3-10, 1-5) found its top two scorers, guard Caitlin Baxter and forward Mackenzie O'Donnell, on the bench with foul trouble for much of the second half.

But junior guard Jasmine Bailey stepped to the fore, scoring 12 of her game-high 16 points in the final two quarters to lead the Tornado to the victory.

“I liked the fact that, with our top two scorers not in the game, we found a way to win,” said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. “Jasmine and Sam Marak stepped up and I liked the way they handled the ball. They took pressure off the younger girls out on the floor.”

The Raiders chipped away at Butler's lead, and after Abby Trzeciak's free throw with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter, the Tornado's edge was trimmed to 38-34.

But SV missed its final seven field goal attempts, which included five shots from beyond the arc.

Baxter returned to the game and hit two big free throws with 1:11 left and Bailey added a pair from the line in the final minute.

“We gave Butler too big of a head start tonight,” said Raiders coach Rob Lombardo. “We felt if we could get the lead at some point, Butler would be done. But to their credit, they never gave up the lead.”

Trailing by 14 points at the start of the second quarter, Lombardo went with size over speed.

It worked on the defensive end as the Raiders held the Tornado scoreless for the first 4:24 of the period.

SV's Alyssa Miller drained a pair of 3-pointers within 20 seconds of each other to cut Butler's lead to six points.

The Tornado's lone points of the period came with Baxter's 3-pointer with 3:36 left before halftime, making it a 22-13 contest.

Butler turned the ball over 26 times.

“I know this sounds funny, but that is our lowest number of turnovers in a game this season,” said Epps. “We've been averaging in the 30s. I'm encouraged.”

Karlei Fronzaglio, Miller and Mary Kate Fullerton each scored six points for the Raiders (5-8, 1-5).

SV was without junior forward Alex Karika, who is attending a high school volleyball showcase.

Baxter and Shelby Johnston each scored nine points for Butler.

SENECA VALLEY 34Brooke Clifford 1 0-0 2, Julia Vandrak 1 1-2 4, Karlei Fronzaglio 2 1-2 6, Alyssa Miller 2 0-0 6, Mary Kate Fullerton 3 0-1 6, Amanda Geiger 2 1-2 5, Abby Trzeciak 1 3-7 5, Angie Lalonde 0 0-0 0, Brianna Sieminski 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 12 6-14 34.

BUTLER 45Mackenzie O'Donnell 2 2-2 6, Samantha Marak 0 1-2 1, Shelby Johnston 4 1-1 9, Jasmine Bailey 6 4-9 16, Ali Houk 1 1-2 4, Caitlin Baxter 2 4-6 9, Emily Eyth 0 0-0 0, Natalie Barkus 0 0-0 0, Morgan McLaughlin 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 15 13-22 45.

Seneca Valley 5 12 7 10—34Butler 19 3 11 12—453-point goals: Seneca Valley 4 (Miller 2, Vandrak, Fronzaglio); Butler 2 (Houk, Baxter).

Thursday: North Hills at Butler; Seneca Valley at Oakland Catholic