BUTLER TWP — The Butler defense was a shadow of its usual self.

If the Golden Tornado girls basketball team wants to have at least six more weeks of basketball, Butler coach Dorothea Epps knows that effort needs to brighten up.

"I just felt like we really didn't have any energy," said Epps after Butler toppled Moon 66-40 Monday night. "You have to bring it from somewhere. You know what? That's when you get bit. We're trying to get ready for the playoffs."

It's hard to quibble about any 26-point win, but Epps saw a lot of things that need improvement if the Tornado are to make a deep playoff push.

Moon (1-19, 0-12) managed to keep the game close for 10 minutes before a 14-2 run gave Butler (19-1, 11-0) a comfortable cushion.

The Tigers have played well of late, upsetting Shaler and takingNorth Allegheny to overtime last week before losing.

It has Moon coach Shannon Boyle squinting into a bright future.

"We're starting to see the work in practice translate to the court now," Boyle said. "It's kind of fun now. It's very promising for me to see that."

Epps spent most of the game frustrated by what she and her coaching staff saw.

Despite the uneven play, Butler led by 21 midway through the third quarter. The Golden Tornado held Moon to six points in the fourth quarter.

"We closed out better than what we played the first three quarters," Epps said. "Defense is our thing, and we have to be able to go out and defend no matter the circumstances."

Moon, though, came prepared to attack Butler's press.

Boyle said she and her staff spent "many, many hours" watching film and dissecting the Tornado defense.

"We were looking for places where we could attack it," Boyle said. "Butler has a great defense. It's going to take them far in the playoffs."

Things weren't all doom and gloom for Butler.

Casie Cygan scored 19 points and Olivia Bresnahan added 14 points and six assists for the Tornado.

Boyle had a plan for Bresnahan, too. But the Butler junior tends to make the best-laid plans moot.

"We tried to stop her," Boyle said. "We talked about denying her the basketball, and when she does give the ball up, deny her getting it back. When she gets the ball in her hands, she's almost always going to score. She's such a great player."

Butler will go back to work to prepare for rival Seneca Valley Thursday.

The Golden Tornado will close out the regular season Saturday against another familiar foe, New Castle.

"We have to treat these games like they are important for winning the section," Epps said. "These last two games are important for seeding. We have to play better, that's all there is to it."

MOON 40Zoey Cook 0-2 0-0 0, Erin Kelly 4-16 6-9 14, Natalie Corso 3-11 0-0 8, Jharrin Gill 3-9 2-2 8, Alicia Aughton 3-6 2-2 8, Marquesha Mackey 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 14-47 10-13 40

BUTLER 66Olivia Bresnahan 7-12 0-0 14, Casie Cygan 8-11 1-2 19, Jenna Manuel 4-8 3-3 11, Amanda Dymun 0-2 7-8 7, Casey Fleeger 1-3 0-0 2, Rachel Doutt 2-3 0-0 4, Katresa Savisky 0-1 5-6 5, Emily Wise 0-0 2-2 2, Becky Nowacki 1-1 0-0 2, Shelby Johnston 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-41 18-21 66

Moon 11 13 10 6—40Butler 18 19 17 12—663-point goals: Corso 2; Cygan 2

Thursday: Butler at Seneca Valley