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Falling short of perfection
'Canes hand Butler girls their 1st section defeat
By John Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
BUTLER TWP — Butler got rattled and Shelby Rodgers kept rattling shots in.
That combination spelled the end to the Golden Tornado's 21-game winning streak Friday night as New Castle rallied for a 57-54 girls basketball victory.
The loss halted Butler's bid to post the program's first perfect section record since 1988.
Butler (22-2, 11-1) had a 44-31 lead with 2:40 left in the third quarter and took a 46-36 lead into the final quarter.
"I know how this one got away — turnovers,"Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. "(The Red Hurricanes) went to their trap. We knew they were going to do it and we know what we have to do against it.
"For some reason, we just got rattled tonight, especially in the final three or four minutes."
There were five lead changes during the first half, with the Tornado taking a 27-26 lead into intermission. Butler seemingly took control of the game with an 11-0 run early in the third period.
Kayla Gilliland stuck back an offensive rebound to give the Tornado a 29-28 lead. A 10-0 run then extended that margin to 39-28 midway through the quarter.
Rodgers' fourth 3-pointer of the night got the deficit out of double digits for New Castle at 44-36 with 1:12 left in the quarter.
Butler turned the ball over nine times in the fourth quarter, allowing the 'Canes to take over the game.
"I can't figure it out sometimes,"New Castle coach Luann Grybowski said. "It seemed we had to be on our back with someone stepping on us before we began to attack.
"Our trap bothered them, I thought. It took them out of their comfort zone."
New Castle (17-4, 10-2) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull within 46-44. Erica Miller sank a 3-pointer that temporarily held off the onslaught.
A free throw by Gilliland gave the Tornado a 52-48 lead with 2:20 to go, but Nikki Wise canned a layup and Rodgers' fifth trey gave New Castle a 53-52 lead with 1:10 to play.
The 5-foot-7 junior guard averages nine points per game. Rogers struck for a career-high 25 Friday, sinking seven of nine shots from the floor.
Butler missed a few chances to win the game in the final minute. The Tornado turned the ball over with 54 seconds left, but Miller stole it back with 30 seconds to play. Again, Butler threw the ball away.
The 'Canes' Abby Allen sank two free throws with 20 seconds on the clock, but a Casie Cygan layup pulled Butler within 55-54 with 13 ticks left.
New Castle's Logan Hartman missed the front end of a one-and-one with 12 seconds to go and Gilliland rebounded for the Tornado. Yet another turnover at midcourt sealed the outcome, however.
Rodgers got the steal and sank two free throws with four seconds left, accounting for the final margin.
"This win means a lot to us," Grybowski said. "To come back the way we did gives us momentum and is a tremendous confidence boost."
Nikki Wise added 10 points and seven rebounds for New Castle. Olivia Bresnahan had 19 points and eight boards for Butler. Miller contributed 11 points and Gilliland had six rebounds.
Butler had a 32-27 edge in rebounds. New Castle had 23 turnovers to Butler's 21.
"Our girls played hard tonight. We really wanted this game,"Epps said. "Our execution wasn't good enough down the stretch."
The 57 points allowed matched a season-high by Butler.
The Tornado will enter the WPIALplayoffs as a section champion and likely will secure one of the top three seeds in the Quad-Atournament.
Butler seniors Day, Gilliland, King, Miller, Ashley Onufrak, Katherine Sylvia and Mackenzie Greenert were honored before the game.
Greenert missed the entire season with a torn ACL, but suited up Friday, was introduced as a starter, took the floor and was removed before the opening tip.
"With all that goes on, people forget sometimes that this is high school basketball,"Epps said. "These kids work so hard. Mackenzie deserved that moment."
The Tornado junior varsity capped a perfect 18-0 season with a 45-39 triumph. Butler has won nearly 50 consecutive jayvee games over three seasons.
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