WEXFORD - North Allegheny wasted little time knocking down shots - and knocking Butler out of its game.

The Tigers sank four 3-pointers before the game was five minutes old, built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 70-49 boys basketball win over the Golden Tornado Tuesday.

North Allegheny (13-4, 7-2) never trailed in winning for the ninth time in 10 games.

"They hit some shots that gave them a quick lead and one thing our style of play does not allow is falling behind by a lot of points fast," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "It lets the other team dictate tempo and forces us to alter our personnel."

Brad Vlassich buried the Tigers' first trey 44 seconds into the game. Dan Lavellee, Ryan Tiesi and John Woodruff added 3-pointers in the opening quarter.

"Our offense produced some open looks and the kids hit the shots," North Allegheny coach Dave DeGregorio said. "Jumping out in front in this game was very important."

North Allegheny had a 20-9 lead with 1:10 left in the opening quarter. The Tigers led by as many as 16 in the second quarter and an 8-0 run gave them a 45-26 advantage with 1:56 left in the third period.

At that point, North Allegheny had drained eight treys - and suffered only five turnovers.

"(Ryan) Tiesi is one of the best point guards in the section," Lewandowski said. "He controlled the game."

Butler (8-9, 3-6) was sparked by Jade Burka and Adam Monday off the bench during a second-half spurt that cut the Tornado deficit to 54-44 with 3:04 remaining.

Burka had 10 points and 12 rebounds while Monday had 11 points, including three treys.

"Our kids persevered and didn't quit," Lewandowski said.

But North Allegheny wouldn't miss any free throws. The Tigers sank 18 of 20 shots from the line in the fourth period and hit 24 of 27 for the game.

Butler sank only five of 11 free throws.

The Tigers are shooting 73 percent from the foul line this year and average only 11 turnovers per game.

North Allegheny had eight turnovers Tuesday to Butler's 16. Despite Burka's effort on the boards, the Tigers held a 30-23 rebounding edge.

Tiesi paced the Tigers with 20 points. Lavellee added 14.

Butler entered the game allowing the fewest points - 50.1 per game - in Section 3-AAAA. But the Tornado allowed 70 for only the second time this season.

Central Catholic defeated Butler, 74-66, Dec. 9.

The Tornado have dropped five straight games and have scored 50 or fewer in all five contests.

Butler is two games out of a playoff spot with five section games remaining.

"Our playoffs start right now," Lewandowski said. "That's how we have to look at it. We're playing hard, we've just got to get our confidence back."

Notes:

The 21-point margin of defeat marked Butler's largest this season. The Tornado have suffered only one other double-digit loss - 59-44 at Plum - all year. … Butler and NA combined for 16 3-pointers.

BUTLER 49

Nate Hartung 1-3 0-0 2, Noah Hartung 3-8 2-4 9, Jerrod Markle 1-6 0-0 3, Blake Anderson 1-5 1-2 4, Sean Lowry 0-0 0-0 0, Jade Burka 4-4 2-4 10, Adam Monday 4-13 0-1 11, Nick Martini 2-3 0-0 6, Alan Jackson 2-3 0-0 4, Matt Celestin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 18-46 5-11 49

NORTH ALLEGHENY 70

Tim Crouch 2-5 3-4 7, Brad Vlassich 3-6 0-0 8, Nick Henderson 0-1 0-0 0, Andy Krewatch 2-5 1-1 5, Ryan Tiesi 4-12 9-10 20, John Woodruff 1-1 5-6 8, Dan Lavellee 4-5 4-4 14, Doug Dzambo 3-8 2-2 8. Totals: 19-44 24-27 70

3-point goals:

Noah Hartung, Markle, Anderson, Monday 3, Martini 2; Vlassich 2, Tiesi 3, Woodruff, Lavallee 2

JV:

North Allegheny, 51-24

Friday:

Fox Chapel @ Butler

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