WEXFORD — Believe in Butler.

The Golden Tornado remained unbeaten and snapped North Allegheny's seven-game winning streak with a 62-49 boys basketball victory on the Tigers' floor Saturday night.

It's what North Allegheny had been doing — not so much what Butler has done — that made Saturday's win an eye opener:

• North Allegheny was coming off a victory over previously undefeated and No. 2 WPIAL-ranked Gateway four days earlier.

• The Tigers had won their previous six games by an average margin of 23 points.

• North Allegheny was averaging 66 points per game with three players — Jack Counahan, Anthony Dallier and Anton Constantino — averaging well into double figures. Constantino led NA with 12 points Saturday.

The Tornado (10-0, 4-0) limited the Tigers (9-2, 2-1) to a season-low 49 points and did not allow NA a field goal in the third quarter after a 10-0 Tiger run in the final three minutes of the first half had tied the game at 30.

"We always have a lull ... There was our lull," Butler coach Matt Clement said of NA's surge before halftime. "But our guys made up for it. Just guard your man and work hard. That's how we play defense."

Butler's victory was the program's first over North Allegheny since 2006.

"This school has dominated us in a lot of sports. That's to their credit. It'as the kind of athletic program they've built here," Clement said. "On Wednesday, I reviewed with our team the recent scores of their basketball games against us, their football scores and baseball scores.

"This is just the fourth section game of the year, but I can't deny this is a big win for these kids. It's another step. We wanted this one badly."

Butler last trailed the game 7-4 midway through the first quarter and the Tornado's biggest lead was 26-15 midway through the second. But the visitors didn't take the lead for good until a Brian Jendesky free throw snapped a 34-34 tie with 2:16 left in the third quarter.

The Tornado took a 38-34 lead into the fourth quarter and outscored the Tigers 24-15 over the final eight minutes. Bobby Swartwout paced Butler with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Swartwout scored eight points in the final quarter after not even getting a shot off in the third period.

"They did some things defensively to take me away, but that's OK," Swartwout said. "That leaves other guys open to do some things.

"We're all about defense. That's something we bring every game."

Jendesky scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. He grabbed five rebounds as well. North Allegheny managed only four field goals in the second half.

Butler had a 35-20 rebounding advantage on the night. Jeff Tompkins snared six boards.

"Bobby took advantage of his size and had a big game," Clement said. "We knew we'd have to outrebound them to win, but I didn't think the margin would be that wide.

"A lot of those were hustle rebounds. We're wearing down a lot of teams late."

Jendesky described the atmosphere on the floor as "really intense." He said the start of this basketball season compared to the 2009 football season "is two different worlds."

"We played a (basketball) playoff game here two years ago and didn't have as many fans as we had here tonight. This was unbelievable," he said.

Clement agreed.

"I think we had more fans here than they did," Clement said. "I'm proud of that more than anything. The community has latched onto this team and I hope it continues."

Nate Snodgrass had 10 points for Butler, sinking eight of 11 free throws. With the Tornado ahead 54-49, he sank two free throws with 57.4 seconds left and another with 39.7 ticks on the clock.

Jendesky capped the game by completing a four-point play with 17.3 seconds to play. He sank a layup while an intentional foul was committed on him.

Butler won the game despite committing 26 turnovers. NA had 16.

"Those summer drills have paid off," Jendesky said. "We never get tired. I'm ready to go back home and play New Castle right now. We're the Energizer Bunny. We keep going and going."

Butler's scheduled home game with New Castle Saturday night was canceled when the North Allegheny game was moved to Saturday.

Clement admired NA's gym before heading for home.

"What I like about this place is they don't hang any section banners in the gym — just WPIAL and state stuff," he said. "That's what I'm all about."

His team carries the same feeling.

"We don't want to stop here," Swartwout said. "We want championships."

BUTLER 62Nate Snodgrass 1-3 8-11 10, Eli Christy 1-1 0-0 2, Logan Renwick 0-2 1-3 1, Brian Jendesky 3-8 5-8 11, Cody Herald 0-0 2-2 2, Jeff Tompkins 1-2 2-2 4, Vinny Schmidt 3-8 1-2 8, Bobby Swartwout 11-14 2-2 24.

Totals: 20-35 21-29 62.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 49Anthony Dallier 4-12 2-2 11, Anton Constantino 3-5 5-7 12, Steve Ferringer 1-7 2-4 4, Ben Colabrese 1-3 0-0 3, Ryan Besonson 3-8 0-0 6, Jake Wrigley 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Counahan 3-11 2-5 11, Kevin Cope 0-0 0-0 0, J.C. Howard 0-3 2-2 2.

Totals: 15-49 13-21 49.

Butler 16 14 8 24—62North Allegheny 13 17 4 15—493-point goals: Butler 1 (Schmidt); North Allegheny 6 (Dallier, Constantino, Colabrese, Counahan 3).

Junior varsity: North Allegheny, 63-48 (B-Zach Slater 18, David Tompkins 11; NA-Byrum Luoco 18)

Tuesday: Baldwin at Butler