Butler girls basketball’s Sydney Patterson, Amelia McMichael overpower for Woodland Hills
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Butler's Sydney Patterson (15) is fouled as she takes the ball to the hoop by Woodland Hills' Kaleina Earl-Hayden (3) and Ayla Clark (5) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Sydney Patterson (15) is fouled as she takes the ball to the hoop by Woodland Hills' Kaleina Earl-Hayden (3) and Ayla Clark (5) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Avery Maier (31) tries to grab a rebound from Woodland Hills' Mauriyah Williams (2) and Myles Young (15) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Avery Maier (31) tries to grab a rebound from Woodland Hills' Mauriyah Williams (2) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) steals the ball against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Emily Hoffer (23) fights for a loose ball with Woodland Hills' Mauriyah Williams (2) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) cheers on her team against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) cheers on her team against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's bench cheers a basket against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Sydney Patterson (15) shoots over Woodland Hills' Mauriyah Williams (2) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Malina McElroy (1) shoots over Woodland Hills Jacquiyah Williams (1) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Eva Stutz (10) throws the ball in against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Emily Cornish (33) shoots over Woodland Hills players in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Amelia McMichael celebrates a basket against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Amelia McMichael celebrates a basket against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Amelia McMichael celebrates a basket against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler defeats Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler defeats Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler defeats Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler defeats Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler defeats Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Avery Maier (31) grabs a rebound over Woodland Hills Mauriyah Williams (2) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Amelia McMichael (32) fights for a loose ball with Woodland Hills Atiyah Walker (12) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler Amelia McMichael (32) fights for a loose ball with Woodland Hills Atiyah Walker (12) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) steals the ball against Woodland Hills in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Malina McElroy (1) fights for a loose ball with Woodland Hills Ayla Clark (5) in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Butler High School. .(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
BUTLER TWP — Sydney Patterson and Amelia McMichael have developed their own mutual admiration society over the past few years.
That was particularly evident Monday night as the two Butler seniors shined in the Golden Tornado’s 60-43 WPIAL Section 1-6A girls basketball victory over Woodland Hills in the Butler High School gym. The Tornado win snapped a three-game losing streak.
Patterson, the team’s point guard, missed the last four games due to illness. She did not start Monday’s game and played limited minutes, but still scored nine points, snagged four rebounds, had three assists and three steals. Butler (12-6, 5-6) trailed 6-4 when Patterson entered the contest less than five minutes into it.
“Syd is everything players want in a point guard,” Tornado coach Mark Maier said. “She runs the offense, facilitates plays, makes everyone on the court better.”
McMichael, a senior guard/forward, tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds as Butler dominated a smaller Woodland Hills team on the boards, enjoying a 32-18 rebounding advantage.
McMichael is 19 points away from 1,000 in her varsity career. She would become the first Butler player in Maier’s coaching career to reach that figure.
“It’s so hard to do in 6A,” Maier said of 1,000 points. “Teams focus on stopping her, but Amelia has been consistently productive for us for three years now.”
Patterson recognizes that as much as anyone.
“It’s been great being part of her journey,” Patterson said. “Amelia works so hard. She’s been such an asset to our team. I admire what she’s been able to do.”
Shortly after Patterson entered the game Tuesday, the Tornado went on a 20-3 run to take control of the contest. Butler’s lead was 12 at halftime and peaked at 26 (49-23) with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
“She’s our point guard. She’s the one we want out there running the show,” McMichael said of Patterson. “She creates well, and our offense runs smoothly with her on the floor.
“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do, (approaching) 1,000 in only three years. She’s had a lot to do with that.”
Malina McElroy, a sophomore, contributed nine points, four rebounds and three assists for Butler, which won despite committing 18 turnovers, 12 in the first half.
Woodland Hills (7-11, 3-8) started three freshmen Tuesday night. Atiyah Walker, a senior, led the Wolverines with 19 points and three steals. Mylee Young, also a senior, had 16 points and three rebounds.
“We are very young, but we’re definitely building,” Woodlands Hills coach Theron Pitts said. “Moving up to 6A ball after playing 5A has been difficult for us, but we’ll be better for it.”
Butler hosts Seneca Valley in a critical Section 1-6A game Friday as part of a girls-boys doubleheader. The Tornado are battling for the fourth and final WPIAL playoff spot in the section.
“It’d be fun to see Amelia reach 1,000 in that kind of atmosphere,” Maier said. “We were watching Syd’s minutes tonight, not letting her play long stretches. ... This was a good way for her to knock off the rust and get ready for Friday.”
WOODLAND HILLS 43
Jacquiyah Williams 2-2 0-0 6, Mauriyah Williams 0-4 0-0 0, Kaleina Earl-Hayden 1-8 0-0 2, Felicia Estes 0-0 0-0 0, Zyla Clark 0-2 0-0 0, Atiyah Walker 8-11 2-2 19, Mylee Young 7-14 2-4 16, Alaina Jackson-Carrington 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 18-41 4-6 43.
BUTLER 60
Malina McElroy 4-10 1-1 9, Campbell Clouse 0-0 0-0 0, Eva Stutz 1-2 0-0 3, Payton Kamerer 0-0 0-0 0, Sydney Patterson 3-3 3-4 9, Emily Hoffer 1-3 0-0 2, Amelia McMichael 10-22 1-2 25, Avery Maier 2-5 0-2 4, Emily Cornish 0-1 3-4 3, Casey Clouse 1-2 2-2 5. Totals: 22-48 10-15 60.
Woodland Hills 9 6 13 15 — 43
Butler 11 16 22 11 — 60
3-point goals: Woodland Hills 3 (J. Williams 2, Walker), Butler 6 (Stutz, McMichael 4, Casey Clouse)
JV: Butler, 46-9 (B: Payton Kamerer 10)
Friday: Seneca Valley at Butler
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