Quick start unable to help Butler
BUTLER TWP — Bang.
A 3-pointer by Sarayne Forbes.
Bang. Bang.
A 3-pointer by Makenna Maier.
Just one minute into the game, the Butler girls basketball team was up 6-0 on Norwin.
Then, a whimper.
The Golden Tornado got cold. Ice cold. Butler was just 1 of 17 the rest of the half from the floor, trailed Norwin 31-12 at the break and ultimately fell to their section foes, 54-29, at home Monday night.
“We have to figure out a way to compete and win when we are (3 of 19 in the first half),” said Butler coach Mark Maier. “I don't want to just throw up our hands and say, 'Well, we shot bad and we lost.'”
Maier was also dismayed by the way his team competed after the quick start.
“With COVID, every game is precious,” the coach said. “You don't want to burp away a game.”
Norwin (9-3, 7-2) settled down after the early Butler lead and went on a 16-1 run before Maisy Gibson's basket with a minute left in the first quarter.
It didn't get any better for Butler (6-6, 6-4) in the second quarter. The only three points the Golden Tornado scored in the quarter were from the free throw line.
Meanwhile, Norwin was efficient on the offensive end with guards Mara Polcynski, Brianna Zajicek and Danielle Rosso running the show and making the extra pass for open shots.
The trio combined for 32 points with Zajicek leading the way with 16.
Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said he is seeing his team coming together.
“Getting out of the block, we're stumbling a little bit,” Brozeski said. “I liked their ability to not get into the panic mode and rely on each other. We're still learning to play with each other. They complement each other. Each one brings something unique to the table.”
Butler struggled getting back on defense in transition as well.
Of course, part of that had to do with Norwin and its athleticism.
“They are efficient. They are workmanlike,” Maier said. “But we probably played in spurts, played 5% the way we needed to play. Talent and toughness are how you win high school basketball games. Girl for girl, we probably don't match their talent, but we have to match their toughness. That's the controllable and I didn't think we played hard. I was disappointed mostly in the fight. That starts with me.”
Gibson was one of the bright spots for the Golden Tornado, scoring nine points to lead the way.
Makenna Maier added eight for Butler, which faces rival Seneca Valley on the road Thursday.
“The good news is we have six more games on the schedule and then the playoffs,” coach Maier said. “You can't undo what just happened, but you can come back (Tuesday) for practice and get after it. You just can't show up game day and say we've changed. You have to do it in practice. We have to get better.”
NORWIN 54Savannah Schneck 1-4 0-0 2, Mara Polczynski 5-9 0-0 10, Brianna Zajicek 7-16 0-0 16, Danielle Rosso 2-6 0-0 6, Alyssa Laukus 3-8 1-2 7, Lauren Palangio 2-6 1-2 5, Maggie Race 1-3 0-0 4, Carly Ellingson 0-0 0-0 0, Chloe Lukondi 0-1 0-1 0, Bailey Kovar 2-2 0-0 4, Kathryn Botti 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Snowberger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-55 4-7 54.
BUTLER 29Sarayne Forbes 2-11 1-2 6, Sam Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Ali Altman 1-5 0-0 2, Makenna Maier 3-9 0-0 8, Aubrey Tack 1-4 1-3 3, Maisy Gibson 2-5 4-6 9, Justine Forbes 0-1 0-0 0, Sarah Fiorina 0-2 0-0 0, Hannah Aldridge 0-1 0-0 0, Ava Selfridge 0-0 0-0 0, Kate Ogin 0-0 0-0 0, Yenkeira Rivera 0-1 0-0 0, Megan Penrod 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 9-41 7-13 29.Norwin 16 15 10 13 — 54Butler9 3 9 8 — 293-point goals: Norwin 4 (Zajicek 2, Rosso ); Butler 4 (S. Forbes, Maier 2, Gibson)Thursday: Butler at Seneca Valley
