Ehrman, Nocera lead Butler girls over Knoch

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By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor

BUTLER TWP - Expect the unexpected.
That might as well be the theme of the 2004-05 Butler varsity girls basketball team.
The Golden Tornado played without two starters Tuesday night - Maria Baroffio (concussion) and Samantha Karns (band trip). Their two standout players - point guard Kelly Miller and center Amy Achesinski - got into early foul trouble and sat out much of the game.
Regardless, Butler defeated Knoch, 57-45, to reach tonight's championship game of the Butler Christmas Tournament. The Tornado (7-5) will play Franklin Regional, a 43-32 winner over Blackhawk, at 6 p.m.
"We seem to be in foul trouble all of the time," Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. "But I have no problem playing our younger girls. I have a lot of confidence in them."
Juniors Julie Ehrman and Ashley Nocera received rare starts Tuesday and took advantage of the opportunity.
Ehrman, who was making only her third varsity start, scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead her team in both categories.
"She has that kind of game within her when she plays relaxed," Epps said.
"It felt good to contribute," Ehrman said. "Once I hit those 3-pointers, I really felt comfortable out there."
Butler had a 6-3 lead midway through the first quarter when Ehrman connected for treys on consecutive possessions. Nocera followed with a pair of treys of her own and the Tornado opened up an 18-7 edge.
Nocera had 12 points in the game - 10 in the first half.
"Those two were the difference," Knoch coach Curt Vasas said. "We wanted to sag into the post and force them to take shots from the outside.
"Those two knocked them down."
Still, the Knights (6-3) pulled to within 20-18 with 4:17 left in the first half and to within 43-37 with 5:57 left in the game.
They couldn't get over the hump either time.
"We didn't take care of the basketball and we didn't finish shots when we had the opportunity," Vasas said. "You can't do that against good teams."
Knoch had 23 turnovers to Butler's 18. The Knights did have a 37-31 rebounding edge.
Knoch's Nicole Reiser had 12 points and nine boards, Maria Frey had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Jen Robinson had nine points and nine rebounds.
Liz Burgard added 12 points and four steals for Knoch.
Achesinski managed 10 points and six rebounds for Butler with Miller compiling 10 points, four steals and four assists.
Franklin Regional 43, Blackhawk 32 -
The Panthers (7-3) received 11 points and 10 rebounds from senior Natalie Gulyas.
Blackhawk (4-6) played without leading scorer Renee Rawding, who is sidelined with a muscle pull. Rawding is not expected to play tonight.
Chelsea Feltrop and Lyndi Miloszewski scored 11 points each for the Cougars. Feltrop fouled out with 3:23 to play.
Notes:
Blackhawk's Rachel Gouldsbarry, Franklin Regional's Lacey McAfoose, Knoch's Reiser and Butler's Ehrman qualified for tonight's 3-point shooting contest finals. The contest will take place at halftime of the Butler-Franklin Regional game. … Butler freshman Megan Spangler suffered a knee injury and her status is doubtful for tonight's game.
FRANKLIN REGIONAL 43
Lacey McAfoose 1-10 3-6 5, Melissa Bertosh 3-9 2-4 8, Natalie Gulyas 2-6 7-10 11, Kristin Iovino 4-6 0-0 8, Ashley Heakins 1-4 3-3 5, Lauren Bradosky 1-1 0-0 2, Erin Cline 0-1 1-2 1, Eden Antalik 0-1 1-2 1, Becky Steele 0-1 2-2 2. Totals: 12-39 19-29 43
BLACKHAWK 32
Chelsea Feltrop 5-12 1-1 11, Rebekah Gouldsbarry 1-5 0-0 3, Noelle Miloszewski 0-5 2-4 2, Lyndi Miloszewski 4-16 3-4 11, Krista Franitti 0-2 0-0 0, Maura Boggs 1-5 1-4 3, Bethany Brewer 1-4 0-0 2, Liz DiPietro 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-49 7-15 32
3-point goal:
Gouldsbarry
KNOCH 45
Nicole Reiser 5-9 2-4 12, Liz Burgard 5-8 2-6 12, Lauren Koegler 0-5 2-2 2, Liz King 0-2 0-0 0, Maria Frey 4-10 2-2 10, Jen Robinson 3-9 3-7 9. Totals: 17-43 11-20 45
BUTLER 57
Abby Herrit 0-2 0-0 0, Kelly Miller 3-10 4-7 10, Ashley Nocera 5-11 0-0 12, Julie Ehrman 5-9 3-6 15, Karissa King 1-2 0-0 2, Michelle Ritchey 0-3 0-0 0, Megan Spangler 1-3 0-0 2, Amy Achesinski 2-5 6-7 10, Kelley Crater 2-5 2-2 6. Totals: 19-50 15-23 57
3-point goals:
Nocera 2, Ehrman 2