HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

Golden Tornado top Franklin Regional

December 14, 2021 High School Basketball

Butler's Aubree Tack (33) tries to get the ball around Franklin Regional's Gabriella Keough during the girls basketball game at Butler High School in Butler Township, Pa. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Butler won 50-27.

JOSEPH RESSLER/BUTLER EAGLE

BUTLER TWP — After splitting its first pair of games at the Armstrong Tournament over the weekend, the Golden Tornado girls basketball team opened shop at home Monday night in convincing fashion, dispatching visiting Franklin Regional (2-1), 50-27, without even scoring in the fourth quarter.

Even though Butler (2-1) hopped out to an 11-1 lead a few minutes into the contest at the Butler Senior High School gymnasium, the Panthers made good use of a timeout to awaken their offense and make sure the game didn't get out of hand early.

It was in the second frame that the Golden Tornado got to twisting. Including threes by senior Makenna Maier and Hannah Aldridge, Butler tacked the next 10 points on the scoreboard. Franklin Regional's Sophia Reitz stopped that run with almost half the quarter to go, but her layup would be the only field goal the guests would make until the break. The Golden Tornado held a 19-point lead at halftime.

The following eight minutes weren't any kinder to Franklin Regional, as the hosts stretched the advantage to as many as 31 points, thanks in large part to four consecutive treys from seniors Aubree Tack and Macklin Hanley and Aldridge.

“I feel like we moved the ball extremely well,” said Aldridge, who finished with 11 points. “Our teamwork was great. Our shooting was on tonight. That's always a help.”

Butler's Justine Forbes passes the ball during the girls basketball game against Franklin Regional at Butler High School in Butler Township, Pa. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Butler won 50-27.

JOSEPH RESSLER/BUTLER EAGLE

Butler allowed only ten points in the second and third quarters combined.

“We shared the ball really well,” Maier said. “We should charge higher admission if we play that way, because that was beautiful basketball. ... I thought (on) numerous possessions everybody could've taken a shot. But we passed it, passed it, passed it. We went from good shot to a better shot to a better shot to a great shot.

“And then, when you punctuate it with a make, it's like it reinforces 'I got to keep doing that.' Even if you miss it after eight (passes), that's still demoralizing to the defense. The ball had energy tonight.”

A lot of the Panthers' points came on second chances, Maier said, because the Golden Tornado was determined not give up shots from behind the arc.

“We have Aubree (Tack) out front, a point guard who plays great defense,” Maier said. “It's hard to penetrate on her. So they were having trouble getting good looks.”

Franklin Regional coach Bernie Pucka gave Butler credit, even calling a timeout in the second half to crouch down and point out to his girls that the Golden Tornado served as an example for how they wish to run their offense.

“We want to play that way,” Pucka said. “That style is our same style. They just do it better. We can take a lot of learning points from this game, for sure.”

Junior Maisy Gibson paced the home team with six boards and three steals. Senior Megan Penrod dished out six assists.

Next up for the Golden Tornado is North Hills at home on Friday night.

Coach Mark Maier talks to the Butler girls basketball team after the first quarter of their game against Franklin Regional at Butler High School in Butler Township, Pa. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Butler won 50-27.

JOSEPH RESSLER/BUTLER EAGLE

FRANKLIN REGIONAL 27

Brooke Schirmer 1 0-0 2, Toryn Fulton 4 1-3 9, Avery Musto 0 2-3 2, Sophia Reitz 2 2-2 6, Sophia Yaniga 2 1-1 5, Gabriella Keough 0 3-4 3. Totals: 9 9-13 27

BUTLER 50

Justine Forbes 3 1-3 7, Megan Penrod 0 0-2 0, Makenna Maier 4 4-5 16, Aubree Tack 4 0-0 9, Hannah Aldridge 3 2-2 11, Jessica Chwalik 2 0-0 4, Macklin Hanley 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 7-12 50

Franklin Regional 11 4 6 6 — 27

Butler 16 18 16 0 — 50

3-point goals: Franklin Regional 0; Butler 9 (Maier 4, Aldridge 3, Tack, Hanley)

Friday: North Hills at Butler