BUTLER TWP - North Allegheny girls basketball coach Will Saunders had hoped his team would find itself in a holiday tournament in Naples, Fla.

The team he hoped for was on display at Butler Wednesday.

The Tigers jumped out to an 11-point first half lead and held off a strong second half by Butler for a 49-46 overtime win in a key Section 3-AAAA game.

"We played our best basketball in Florida," said Saunders. "We got an identity down there.

"I said, 'Look, when we come back we'll know who we are, know our rotations and know what we have to do,'" he added.

North Allegheny (6-6, 2-2) returned from the Naples Daily News Shootout, where it played four games, the last of which was Monday.

"We were concerned with jet lag," said Saunders. "The girls had to get up and go to school, but we were more concerned if we would play with the same intensity."

Thanks to a quick start by Rachel Divosevic, the Tigers raced out to a 16-5 lead with 1:55 left in the first quarter.

Divosevic, who finished with a game-high 21 points, scored 10 of her 14 first-half points in that span.

"We talked about coming out and jumping on them and making them play hard right off the bat," said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. "It was like we were the ones who came off the plane."

Butler (8-7, 2-3) trailed 24-13 with 5:23 left in the second quarter before the Tornado scored the final points before halftime on a pair of Amy Achesinski baskets in the final 27 seconds.

The Butler defense continued to keep North Allegheny in check when, after a Divosevic basket to open the second half, Butler scored the next nine points - highlighted by a pair of Achesinski scores and a 3-pointer by Kelly Miller - to knot the game at 26.

Trailing 32-28, Butler took its first lead of the night when Achesinski converted a three-point play and Miller sank two free throws with 6:04 remaining.

There were six lead changes in the fourth quarter, the last came when NA reserve Cara Davies drained the Tigers' only 3-pointer of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation.

Butler forced overtime when Samantha Karns put back a Julie Ehrman jumper with 16 seconds left.

Divosevic had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds, but her short jumper kicked off the rim.

In overtime, Davies connected on a shot just inside the 3-point line to get the Tigers off and running.

Miller's score off a steal tied the game at 44 with 1:45 left, but Divosevic scored 27 seconds later and Stephanie Wolf's free throw with 38.7 seconds left opened up a 47-44 lead.

Ehrman's layup with 13 seconds left pulled Butler to within one, but Rebecca Mapel sank two free throws with 10.7 seconds left to regain the three-point cushion for the Tigers.

Butler had one last chance, but Karissa King's shot was blocked.

Achesinski led Butler with 15 points and Miller added 11.

"It was a good comeback effort, but when you fight so hard to get back, it's tough," Epps said. "When you give them an 11-point lead instead of having them on their heels, that'll take a lot out of you."

Butler will try to rebound with its home contest against North Hills as part of a girls-boys doubleheader Friday.

"We're still in the hunt to make the playoffs," said Epps. "But, you can't drop games like (NA). We have to get that Friday game. If we don't, then we'd lose three home games in our section."

NORTH ALLEGHENY 49

Laura Casey 0 0-0 0, Stephanie Wolf 5 1-2 11, Rachel Divosevic 9 3-4 21, Kirsten Beatty 0 2-2 2, Rebecca Mapel 2 4-6 8, Kate Winland 1 0-0 2, Cara Davies 2 0-0 5, Nicole Dudas 0 0-0 0, Amanda Dice 0 0-0 0, Sarah Haas 0 0-0 0, Mallory Skarupa 0 0-0 0, Michelle Yakelis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 10-14 49.

BUTLER 46

Kelly Miller 2 6-6 11, Ashley Nocera 1 0-0 3, Amy Achesinski 7 1-2 15, Julie Ehrman 2 2-2 7, Samantha Karns 1 6-8 8, Rachel Barry 1 0-0 2, Elizabeth Schultz 0 0-2 0, Maria Baroffio 0 0-0 0, Michelle Ritchey 0 0-0 0, Karissa King 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 15-20 46.

3-point goals:

Davies; Miller, Nocera, Ehrman

JV:

Butler, 36-24

Friday:

North Hills at Butler (as part of boys-girls doubleheader)