Gators tandem too much for Silverado girls

Basketball coaches strive to have an inside-outside game.

They would do well to borrow Green Valley’s game film from Tuesday night.

The Gators girls (4-1) worked the one-two punch to near perfection in their Southeast League opener at Silverado.

Junior post Angelica Mack racked up 32 points and 15 rebounds, and senior wing Mackenzie Butler scored 24 as the Gators downed the Skyhawks 71-57 in a battle of teams that should contend for a playoff spot.

“They played phenomenal together,” said Green Valley coach Ashley Brooks. “The inside-outside game was huge. You can’t defend both at once. You have to try to double (team) one or the other.”

Mack did the dirty work early, scoring 12 points — all from inside the paint — in the first 8 minutes, 12 seconds of the game.

Then it was Butler’s turn. A transfer from Bishop Gorman who sat out last season, Butler tallied 10 points in the final 6:42 of the second quarter to help the Gators to a 36-25 halftime edge.

The Skyhawks (3-2, 0-1) simply couldn’t find a way to effectively defend both players at once.

Even when they denied Mack the ball, she grabbed seven offensive rebounds and converted them into six stick-back baskets.

Butler sprinkled in drives to the basket along with enough perimeter shooting to keep the Skyhawks honest, as Silverado never got closer than seven points in the second half. Butler also grabbed 12 rebounds, eight of those on defense.

“Mackenzie read the court so well today,” Brooks said.

Natalie Lainhart led the Skyhawks with 22 points. Jessica Meyers scored 15 and Brittany Loguidice 11 for Silverado.

“This was extremely important for us,” said Brooks, whose team travels to potential league-title contender Foothill on Thursday. “We’re the younger, inexperienced team. The girls were extremely pumped up for this.”