BUTLER TWP — Butler found itself building a pair of comfortable leads against Bethel Park on Thursday.

But maybe the Tornado girls basketball team got too comfortable.

Seeing a 15-point third-quarter lead shrink to four points in just two minutes, then watching a 10-point lead drop to two in the fourth quarter, Butler was able to hold off the Black Hawks 54-44 in a nonconference matchup at Butler High School.

"We just got a little lackadaisical and our passes were lazy," said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. "You get that when you get a little tired.

"We knew Bethel Park was a good team and knew they would make some runs. We missed several foul shots which we really could have separated ourselves from them,"Epps added.

Olivia Bresnahan connected on just one of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter, including seven consecutive free throws during a span in which Bethel Park turned a 43-33 deficit to 43-41 with 2:11 remaining in the game.

The Black Hawks' Ashley Jenkins and Krista Krebs netted two baskets each, but when The Tornado's Kayla Gilliland sank two free throws seven seconds later and Bresnahan connected on a critical three-point play with 1:41 to go, Butler held a seven-point lead.

"It got down to two, but our girls stayed tough and didn't fold," said Epps. "They kept their composure."

Bethel Park did answer with a free throw by Jenkins and a score by Candace Martino, the latter with 1:08 remaining, but the team could pull no closer the rest of the way.

Butler had lead 24-20 late in the first half when Bresnahan sank three free throws in the final 1:37 to give Butler a seven-point halftime advantage.

Lyndsy Day opened the third quarter with three baskets and when Bresnahan added another with 3:55 remaining in the frame, Butler (3-1) took a 35-20 lead.

A bit frustrated, Bethel Park coach Jonna Burke began making personnel changes and got quick results.

In a 2:01 span, Bethel Park (1-3) went on an 11-0 run, using four steals during the spurt. Freshman Kara Rayburn led the way with two steal-and-scores, scored off a steal by a teammate, then made another steal that led to a three-point play by Danielle McNabb.

"It was a matter of substitution," said Burke. "I was a little fed up with some of the starting guys. It was the same situation on Tuesday night (a loss to Norwin). We fell behind big in the second half and I was just tired of it.

"At one point, I had three freshmen and a sophomore out there. "(Rayburn) was a big spark. She's deceivingly quick. She's our sixth man," Burke.

Bresnahan finished with a game-high 14 points and Day added 13 for the Tornado. McNabb led the Black Hawks with 12 points.

"(Bethel Park) is a good program and, like I explained to the kids, this is a good win against a quality team," said Epps.

BETHEL PARK 44Ashley Jenkins 2 2-8 6, Candace Martino 2 0-0 5, Erin Varley 0 0-0 0, Danielle McNabb 5 2-2 12, Bridget Beilich 1 1-2 3, Krista Krebs 2 3-4 7, Kara Rayburn 4 0-0 8, Lauren Miller 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Panicco 1 0-0 2, Alexandra Hay 0 0-0 0, Shannon Hagerty 0 1-2 1.

Totals: 17 9-18 44.

BUTLER 54Lyndsy Day 4 5-7 13, Olivia Bresnahan 4 5-17 14, Karissa King 1 2-2 4, Erica Miller 2 0-2 4, Kayla Gilliland 1 6-6 8, Jenna Manuel 1 0-0 2, Casie Cygan 1 0-0 3, Katherine Sylvia 0 0-0 0, Rachel Doutt 2 2-2 6.

Totals: 16 20-36 54.

Bethel Park 9 11 11 13—44Butler 13 14 12 15—543-point goals: Martino; Bresnahan, Cygan

JV: Butler, 39-37 (B: Casie Cygan 14)

Saturday: Butler at Uniontown