BUTLER TWP — Four sophomores starting against one of the best girls basketball teams in the WPIAL can be a recipe for disaster.

For Butler, it was a reason for encouragement.

The Golden Tornado trailed by eight points and had the ball in the waning seconds of the third quarter against North Allegheny Friday night. The Tigers stole it and Kelly Brennan stuck back an offensive rebound just before the buzzer.

North Allegheny (9-1, 2-1) went on to post a 62-46 victory, sending Butler (1-9, 0-4) to its eighth straight loss.

But the Tigers knew they were in a game.

“Absolutely. This was a tough, physical basketball game for four quarters,” NA coach Sherri McConnell said. “We expected a big fight from them and we got it.”

There were seven ties and six lead changes in the game's first 10 minutes. The Tigers took the lead for good on consecutive 3-pointers by Jessica Mancosh midway through the second quarter.

Those baskets started a 16-1 NA run. The Tigers enjoyed runs of 9-0 and 10-0 in the second half, but the Tornado cut into the lead after each.

“We didn't back down all night,” Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. “From the opening tip, we played hard and we stayed with them. That's one of the best teams in the WPIAL.

“I'm very encouraged by what I saw. I feel like we took two steps forward tonight.”

Mancosh had all five of NA's treys and Brennan contributed 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Alexis Aiken had 14 points, 10 boards, three assists and three steals.

Brennan has 1,017 points in her career and will play at Seton Hill University next season.

“We were coming off a loss to Shaler in which we didn't rebound well,” McConnell said. “I harped on rebounding in practice and it was nice to see the girls respond to that.”

North Allegheny had a 38-36 edge on the boards. The Tigers sank 17 of 22 free throws while the Tornado made 11 of 25.

“We're a team that's going to struggle to score, so we have to take advantage of those free ones,” Epps said. “But we're a work in progress all the way around.”

The Tornado had 16 turnovers Friday, significantly fewer than in previous games.

Caitlin Baxter had 22 points and six steals for Butler. MacKenzie O'Donnell had 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:11 to play. Jasmine Bailey and Natalie Barkus also fouled out for the Tornado.

“That poor girl never gets a rest,” Epps said of Baxter. “But she's the kind of player you want on your side because she gives all she has all of the time.

“We needed to play a perfect game and stay out of foul trouble to win tonight. That didn't happen, but I loved our effort.”

NORTH ALLEGHENY 62Maddie Nellis 0-1 3-5 3, Chrissy Figan 3-7 2-2 8, Alexis Aiken 3-12 8-9 14, Kelly Drennan 6-8 3-4 15, Jessica Mancosh 5-15 0-0 15, Paige Hufnagel 0-2 0-0 0, Sophie Seel 0-0 0-0 0, Leah Haas 2-4 1-2 5, Zoe Colabrese 1-2 0-0 2, Sam Blue 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Brennan 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 20-53 17-22 62.

BUTLER 46MacKenzie O'Donnell 5-9 2-5 12, Sam Marask 2-2 1-1 5, Jasmine Bailey 2-7 0-1 4, Emily Eyth 0-9 0-0 0, Shelby Johnston 0-0 0-0 0, Ali Houk 0-1 0-0 0, Caitlin Baxter 7-16 7-12 22, Natalie Barkus 1-2 1-6 3.

Totals: 17-46 11-25 46.

North Allegheny 14 20 13 15—62Butler 14 12 11 9—463-point goals: Nprth Allegheny 5 (MMancosh 5); Butler 1 (Baxter).

Junior varsity: North Allegheny, 61-25 (NA: Taylor Brennan 13, Jamie Robatisin 12, Taylor Soerger 11; B: Emily Eyth 8)

Monday: Franklin Regional at Butler