How Butler girls basketball began season with road win over Armstrong
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Butler's Emily Hoffer scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler looks to pass during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Emily Hoffer scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher attempts to reach the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Casey Clouse makes a layup during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Casey Clouse passes the ball during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Malina McElroy drives toward the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher looks to pass during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Amelia McMichael scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Malina McElroy blocks during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Sydney Patterson drives toward the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Amelia McMichael and Cameryn Booher get around Armstrong during a girls basketball game at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Eva Stutz passes during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Avery Maier looks to pass during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Malina McElroy scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher blocks during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher passes the ball during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher looks to pass during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Casey Clouse looks to pass during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler Coach Mark Maier watches the team during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Ashton Huff scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Casey Clouse makes a layup during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Amelia McMichael and Cameryn Booher get around Armstrong during a girls basketball game at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher blocks during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Malina McElroy drives toward the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Cameryn Booher drives the ball down the court during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Malina McElroy drives toward the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Amelia McMichael shoots and scores during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Sydney Patterson attempts to drive toward the net during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
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Butler's Emily Cornish passes the ball during a girls basketball game against Armstrong at Armstrong High School on Saturday, Nov. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/30/2024)
MANOR TWP, Armstrong County — There wasn’t much for Mark Maier not to like about his team’s debut.
The Butler girls basketball team dominated throughout against host Armstrong in posting a 51-27 victory Saturday afternoon.
“Armstrong has just one starter back from last year’s team, so we had no film on them and came into today blind as to what they were going to do,” Maier said. “It was a good effort by us and most importantly, we got the win, almost doubled them up (in points).”
A strong first quarter set the tone for the Golden Tornado. Four different players scored on 7-of-14 shooting against the River Hawks’ zone defense, including three baskets from senior point guard Sydney Patterson, and Butler was up 18-4 after eight minutes of play.
“We did well with not turning the ball over (just two turnovers in the first half),” Maier said. “If you’re not turning the ball over, you’re getting shots, and if you’re a good shooting team, that’s a good combination.”
Senior Amelia McMichael, the Tornado’s top scoring threat, began the season with a 17-point effort. Patterson, who averaged 10 points per game last year, scored six against the River Hawks. Malina McElroy added eight points in the win.
“We’re hoping to have three girls average in double figures this year, combining for about 37 or 38 (points) per game,” Maier said. “And if we can have a few other players chip in with three or four every night, that’s the output we need as a team.”
Armstrong was 23-6 last year, reaching the WPIAL Class 5A championship game and the PIAA quarterfinals. Point guard Isabella Yancy is the lone returning full-time starter from that squad. The team graduated Emma Paul, a guard who put up an average of 21 points last year.
The River Hawks’ inexperience showed Saturday in the form of 22 turnovers and a 10-of-39 showing from the field.
Marlo Mellish, a part-time starter last year, led Armstrong with 14 points against Butler.
“All three of our seniors (Yancy, Mellish and Avery Hogan) have taken on a leadership role, but there’s a lot of pressure on Isabella out there, being the quarterback,” Armstrong coach Jim Callipare said. “She’s feeling the brunt of the pressure and right now, there’s just not much help around her.”
BUTLER 51
Malina McElroy 3 0-0 8, Cam Booher 2 3-6 7, Sydney Patterson 3 0-0 6, Amelia McMichael 7 0-0 17, Casey Clouse 1 2-4 4, Eva Stutz 1 0-0 3, Ashton Huff 1 2-2 4, Emily Hoffer 1 0-0 2, Avery Maier 0 0-0 0, Emily Cornish 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 7-12 51.
ARMSTRONG 27
Gemma Swartz 1 0-0 2, Avery Hogan 1 3-4 5, Marlo Mellish 5 1-2 14, Isabella Pawk 3 0-0 6, Amylia Gaiser 0 0-0 0, Isabella Yancy 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 4-6 27.
Butler 18 10 12 11 — 51
Armstrong 4 8 4 11 — 27
3-point goals: Butler 6 (McMichael 3, McElroy 2, Stutz); Armstrong 3 (Mellish 3).
Wednesday: Erie at Butler
