Cam Booher, Butler girls basketball beat Mercyhurst Prep to start tip-off tournament

Derek Pyda Eagle Staff Writer

December 06, 2024 Last Updated: December 06, 2024 11:16 PM Sports

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Success for Butler’s girls basketball team this season will depend on much more than the play of team leaders Amelia McMichael and Sydney Patterson.

Others, including guard Cam Booher, must do their part.

The senior certainly did Friday night, scoring a team-high 14 points as the Golden Tornado breezed past Mercyhurst Prep 60-23 in the first day of the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament.

Booher played as a freshman and sophomore at Karns City before her family moved into the Butler district in August 2023.

“I spent the season just trying to settle in, tried to find my comfort zone,” said Booher, who did earn a starting role in her first year with the Tornado. “I’m more confident this year.”

Butler coach Mark Maier sees a number of qualities in Booher that will benefit the team this season.

“She’s a good ball handler and a good shooter,” he said. “She’s smart and knows when to shoot the 3, can drive and absorb contact and is tough on defense. We switched her and Malina (McElroy) off and on against (Mercyhurst’s Mari Nixon) tonight. She’s their best player.”

Nixon scored 15 points, but received very little support. Meanwhile, Butler (2-0) received 13 points from McMichael while McElroy, Patterson and Avery Maier combined for 23 points.

Booher drained two of the Tornado’s eight treys.

Butler’s solid start last year fizzled once the team reached section play, and the Tornado missed the playoffs.

But Butler had to replace just one starter, filled by McElroy, who saw valuable time off the bench in 2023-24. Experience is on the team’s side this winter.

“We faced a lot of adversity last year, but showed up every day with a smile on our face and looked at it as a chance to learn and improve,” Booher said. “We are a resilient group and that should help us this year.”

MERCYHURST PREP 23

Cassidy Netkowicz 1 0-0 2, Mari Nixon 5 3-6 15, Makayla Savko 1 0-0 2, Nora Taylor 1 0-0 2, Aubrey Easterling 1 0-0 2. Totals: 9 3-6 23.

BUTLER 60

Malina McElroy 3 0-0 7, Cam Booher 3 6-6 14, Eva Stutz 1 0-0 2, Sydney Patterson 3 0-0 7, Ashton Huff 1 0-0 2, Emily Hoffer 1 1-2 3, Avery Maier 4 0-0 9, Amelia McMichael 5 1-2 13, Casey Clouse 1 0-0 3, Emily Cornish 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Cornell 0 0-0 0, Payton Kamerer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 8-10 60.

Mercyhurst Prep 9 5 4 5 — 23

Butler 23 18 14 5 — 60

3-point goals: Mercyhurst Prep 2 (Nixon 2); Butler 8 (Booher 2, McMichael 2, McElroy, Patterson, Maier, Clouse).