Butler girls work for win vs. P-R

By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor

BUTLER TWP — When Julia Baxter heated up, Pine-Richland melted down.
The Butler center tallied 22 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots Saturday during the Golden Tornado’s 44-39 girls basketball victory over Pine-Richland.
Most of Baxter’s damage occurred in the second half. She had eight points and four rebounds in the first two quarters and the score was tied at 20 at halftime.
Butler (3-1, 2-0) led by as many as eight in the fourth quarter and held on for the win.
“She (Baxter) just dominated our No. 4 and 5 girls inside,” Pine-Richland coach Cliff Foster said. “She was the difference in the game.”
Tornado point guard Alyssa DiPippa was a key factor as well. Battling an injury, she sat on the first row of the bleachers after the game, a leg packed in ice.
“Julia was great, but DiPippa was playing on one leg out there today,” Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. “Her effort was tremendous.
“When she wasn’t in there, we couldn’t get the ball up the floor. That’s an area we definitely need to address.”
Butler had 22 turnovers on the day to nine for the Rams. But Pine-Richland’s team managed only four more rebounds than Baxter snared herself. Butler had a 35-21 advantage on the boards.
Pine-Richland (3-2, 0-1) — playing its fifth straight road game — sank only 12 of 41 shots from the floor.
“Defense is still the key for our team,” Baxter said. “It’s our biggest strength. We’re playing much better as a team, too, because we know each other a lot better.”
While Baxter was the only Butler player scoring in double figures, Dani Hensel had six rebounds and four assists, Kalynn Callihan three treys and four assists, Tiana Schaffner five rebounds.
And, of course, DiPippa contributed eight points and four rebounds during her limited minutes.
“We played a lot of games seemingly 2-on-5 last year,” Epps admitted. “This year, we’ve got a lot of girls contributing a lot of things.”
The lead changed hands eight times and was last tied at 29 with 2:11 left in the third quarter. Baxter stuck back an offensive rebound with 1:47 left in the third to finally give Butler the lead for good.
Another rebound and putback by Baxter gave the Tornado a 35-32 edge at the end of the third. Callihan opened the fourth period with a trey and when Baxter laid in a shot with 5:50 to go, Butler had its eight-point lead.
“I grew up in the Butler-Knoch area and know how hard-nosed and gritty the basketball is here,” Foster, a Knoch graduate, said. “Effort and grit is what won Butler this game.
“When you force 22 turnovers and give up only nine, get 41 shots and score just 39 points, something’s wrong. As the coach, I take the blame when we lose 99 percent of the time.
“But, today, we missed a lot of bunnies inside. We were getting looks. These girls didn’t make plays and that’s why they lost,” Foster added.
Pine-Richland sank five treys, all in the first half. The Rams managed seven field goals otherwise.
“We took the 3-pointer away from them in the second half and they struggled,” Epps said.
Sophomore Amanda Kalin, averaging 24 points per game, scored 15 points, had five rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Rams. Chelsea Rourke had seven rebounds.
“We’re 2-0 in section and that feels good,” Epps said. “With only one day to prepare for this game, the girls came out and worked hard. This was a nice win.”
PINE-RICHLAND 39
Caitlyn Byerly 3-11 2-3 8, Chelsea Rourke 2-7 0-0 4, Kaitlyn Jenkins 0-2 0-0 0, Megan Grzybeck 1-3 0-0 3, Amanda Kalin 3-10 8-10 15, Gianna DeTemple 2-6 0-0 6, Mackenzie Jenkins 1-1 0-0 3, Savannah Renner 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Brenner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 12-41 10-13 39.
BUTLER 44
Mia Rader 0-1 1-2 1, Alyssa DiPippa 4-6 0-0 8, Dani Hensel 0-4 0-0 0, Kalynn Callihan 3-6 0-0 9, Julia Baxter 10-15 2-2 22, Tiana Schaffner 2-4 0-1 4, Jenna Kunst 0-2 0-2 0. Totals: 19-38 3-6 44.
Pine-Richland 11 9 12 7 — 39
Butler12 8 15 9 — 44
3-point goals: Grzybeck, Kalin, Detemple 2, M.Jenkins; Callihan 3