BUTLER TWP — Butler's school colors are gold and white. But color much of its student section green.

As in The Green Party.

That still-growing portion of the Golden Tornado's fan base will be out in full force tonight in Fox Chapel as Butler's boys basketball team faces Woodland Hills in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals.

“It just kind of came about,” Butler junior Grant Clawson said of the color green. “It's my favorite color, so I picked it.”

Joining the Green Party is easy. Just wear something green, whether it be a shirt, headband, hat, cape, whatever.

“I took air fresheners used inside a car and taped them to myself. It's all about creativity and having fun,” junior Sam Dietrich said.

And supporting their basketball team.

Luke Harbison felt like the Butler student section wasn't large or boisterous enough during much of the regular season. Two weeks ago, The Green Party made its debut and it's caught on quickly throughout the school.

“We used to get maybe 30 kids in the student section for regular season games,” Harbison said. “Our team deserves better than that. We wanted to make our presence felt.

“This last game (Saturday at Penn Hills), we got up to maybe 50 in the Green Party. Now we're anticipating a lot more.”

That number could reach 80 or so tonight.

“When we first started this, it was 10th through 12th grade because that's who's in our school,” Clawson said. “Last game, we invited the freshmen sitting behind us to join us. That really bolstered our numbers.”

“There is no hierarchy here,” Harbison said. “No one is better or more important than anyone else. We're just Butler.”

The Green Party shows up with giant signs featuring mug shots of players. Not everyone wears green in the group.

Costumes are an option as well.

One guy wears a dinosaur outfit. Another dons a chicken suit. Still another dresses as the Cat in a Hat.

“Anything works,” Dietrich said.

The goal of The Green Party is to provide more energy on the court for the Tornado basketball team — and it's working.

“I know the kids are loving it,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “I don't know much about The Green Party, how it started or how it works, but I know the affect they're having on my team.

“The players talk about it all the time. They do get energy from that student section. The kids are having fun and no one has crossed the line. It's great to see.

“This is my eighth year as coach and third trip to the WPIAL semifinals. We've always had support rom the students and the community, but I've never seen anything like this before,” the coach added. “I hope everyone gets to the game early so they can all get in.”

Harbison said the organized student section “doesn't want to take away from the glory of the basketball team or deflect attention from the players.

“They're the show and we're proud of them,” he said.

The Green Party may not stop at basketball.

“We're talking about expanding this to other sports,” Dietrich said. “Football, wrestling, baseball, swimming, volleyball ... all of them.

“We want to support our school and this is a fun way to do it. Everyone is having a blast.”