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Butler girls basketball ends years-long losing streak against North Allegheny on senior night

BUTLER TWP — Seniors shining on the night they are recognized. It does not always work out that way, but that is how things unfolded Thursday in Butler High’s gym.

The Golden Tornado’s five seniors — Cameryn Booher, Sydney Patterson, Avery Maier, Amelia McMichael and Casey Clouse — combined to score all but two points in the team’s 50-41 girls basketball victory over North Allegheny.

“That’s awesome,” Butler coach Mark Maier said. “What a great night. We lost (52-30) down at NA three weeks ago, and this shows how much we’ve improved.”

Pacing the effort for Butler (11-9, 6-4 WPIAL Class 1-6A) was Amelia McMichael, who tallied a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Related Article: Patience pays off as Butler girls basketball’s Amelia McMichael reaches 1,000-point milestone
Butler's Sydney Patterson (15) dribbles down the court against a North Allegheny defender in a girls basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Butler High School. Butler won 50-41. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

“This win adds to our confidence, and that’s big for us with the playoffs coming up,” McMichael said. “Plus, we’d never beaten NA since I’ve been playing.”

The losing streak to the Tigers the Tornado broke goes back further than that.

“My first season coaching was 2017-18, and we were 0-15 against them before tonight,” Maier said. “They embarrassed us at their place last month, we turned the ball over 32 times.”

After a shaky start Thursday — the Tigers (9-11, 5-5) opened the game with an 8-0 run — the Tornado set about avenging that earlier defeat. They scored 47 of the next 68 points and held a commanding 47-29 lead entering the final period.

“I thought we played very well on defense in the first three quarters,” Maier said. “Got a little leaky there in the fourth, but it’s tough protecting a 20-point lead with no shot clock.”

Patterson helped spark Butler’s onslaught, scoring all nine of her points in the first half. She added a team-high six assists and six steals.

Leading 31-23 at the break, Clouse, Avery Maier and Booher (2) combined for four 3-pointers as Butler’s lead swelled to 45-25 with 2:44 left in the third.

“We got into foul trouble early tonight, and that hurt us,” NA coach Gabriella Baldasare said. “But give credit to Butler. They shot the heck out of the ball tonight, and usually that’s what we do.”

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Butler's Avery Maier (31) hits for 3-pointeras she is defended by North Allegheny's Cate Pingpank in a girls basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Butler High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler’s win, combined with Seneca Valley’s victory against Pine-Richland, hands second place in Section 1-6A to the Tornado.

“We finish tied with Pine, but we swept them,” Maier said. “I’m thinking we can’t end up any worse than a sixth seed in the playoffs.”

Patterson has been a member of Butler’s varsity for three years. With her high school career nearing its end, she reflected on her time with the program.

“It’s been amazing,” she said. “It’s so much like a family here. Everyone lifts each other up.”

The Tornado close the regular season at home Monday against Shady Side Academy.

Butler’s junior varsity team also won, moving to 16-2 on the season and preserving its unbeaten record in section play.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 41

Maddie Williams 1 2-3 5, Leah Skweres 4 2-5 10, Natalie Kinross 3 0-0 9, Rosalia Varlotta 5 0-0 10, Vange Balouris 2 0-2 5, Rae Shanahan 1 0-1 2, Cate Pingpank 0 0-2 0. Totals: 16 4-13 41.

BUTLER 50

Cameryn Booher 2 1-2 7, Sydney Patterson 3 3-3 9, Ashton Huff 1 0-0 2, Avery Maier 1 0-0 3, Amelia McMichael 9 5-6 26, Casey Clouse 1 0-2 3, Malina McElroy 0 0-0 0, Eva Stutz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 9-13 50.

North Allegheny 15 8 6 12 — 41

Butler 13 18 16 3 — 50

3-point goals: North Allegheny 5 (Kinross 3, Williams, Balouris); Butler 7 (McMichael 3, Booher 2, Maier, Clouse).

Monday: Shady Side Academy at Butler

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