The right stuff
BUTLER TWP — Butler's best basketball was not on display Monday night.
But Golden Tornado girls coach Dorothea Epps was more concerned with her team's determination to play
winning basketball.Butler trailed for much of the night, including a seven-point deficit at halftime, but stormed back in the second half to beat visiting Shaler 62-55."It showed a lot of character, being able to come back in this one," said Epps. "We were down and couldn't seem to get anything going against that 1-3-1 (zone). I just told the girls to hang in there."Olivia Bresnahan dropped 16 fourth-quarter points on the Titans, which included making 12-of-14 free throws.The senior went on a personal 8-0 run, putting her team ahead 52-50 with 2:52 left.Tied at 54-all, Bresnahan's free throw with 1:23 left gave the Tornado the lead for good.On Shaler's ensuing trip up the floor, Bresnahan managed a steal and passed the ball ahead to Casey Fleeger, whose layup gave the Tornado a 57-54 edge with a minute left.The former led all scorers with 26 points and added 12 rebounds."Butler played much better than we did in the third and fourth quarters," said Shaler coach Eric Mozzetti.Butler's play late in the game was in stark contrast to the first half, which saw the team make only 8-of-29 field goal attempts, including several missed shots close to the basket.Shaler led 30-23 at the break."They were keying on (Bresnahan)," said Epps. "Other girls had to step up."Katresa Savisky did, scoring all 11 of her points in the second half, including seven of Butler's 10 points in a third quarter that saw the Titans (11-4, 5-3) hold Bresnahan scoreless.Savisky's three-point play with 3:40 left in the third period cut Shaler's lead to three points."(Savisky) didn't play all that well in the first half and she knew that," said Epps. "But she likes to be challenged. That's when she plays her best.""I knew somebody had to step up," said Savisky. "I missed a lot of shots in the first half and just focused on making some plays for the team."Shaler, which fell to Butler 56-46 Jan. 13, received strong games from Val McQuade (19 points) and Haley Sauer (18) in Monday's rematch.Casie Cygan contributed 11 points to Butler's win.The victory keeps the Tornado, 10-5 overall, perfect in Section 3-AAAA play at 8-0."The most important thing is that we finish first in the section so that we get a good seed in the (WPIAL) playoffs," said Savisky. "But I think going undefeated is in the back of everyone's mind."
SHALER 55Maria Bozzo 2 0-0 4, Cate Potter 2 2-2 7, Hilary Sauer 0 6-8 6, Ashley Domachowski 0 1-2 1, Val McQuade 8 2-4 19, Haley Sauer 5 7-7 18, Shannon Powell 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 17 18-23 55.
BUTLER 62Casey Fleeger 2 0-0 4, Katresa Savisky 4 3-3 11, Olivia Bresnahan 5 16-20 26, Emily Wise 1 0-0 3, Casie Cygan 4 1-1 11, Mackenzie O'Donnell 1 0-0 2, Ali Sedwick 1 2-2 5, Cait Baxter 0 0-0 0, Jasmine Bailey 0 0-0 0, Becky Nowacki 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 18 22-26 62.
Shaler 14 16 8 17—55Butler 8 15 10 29—623-point goals: Shaler 3 (Potter, McQuade, Ha. Sauer); Butler 4 (Cygan 2, Wise, Sedwick).
Thursday: Butler at Pine-Richland
