WEXFORD — Mackenzie O’Donnell was a force to be reckoned with for the Butler girls basketball team on Friday night.

North Allegheny’s Abby Gonzales was just as effective, though — and had a whole lot of help.

Gonzales tallied a game-high 21 points and the Tigers ran away with a 54-34 win over Butler in a Section 1-AAAA clash at North Allegheny High School.

O’Donnell finished with 19 points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Tornado (3-5, 0-1). Cait Baxter added nine points for Butler — six in the fourth quarter — but the rest of the team combined for only one field goal and four free throws.

The Tornado shot just 9-of-46 from the field — 19.6 percent — including 0-for-12 from 3-point range.

“We have to have more people helping (O’Donnell) out with the scoring. Tonight, we didn’t have it,” said Butler coach Dorothea Epps. “We’re never going to win a game with just one girl scoring.”

Gonzales matched Butler’s nine field goals by herself. She was 9-for-11 on the night and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Maddie Nellis dished out a game-high seven assists for NA.

“Our team did a nice job of finding the open person,” said North Allegheny coach Sherri McConnell. “We talk about attacking gaps more, penetrating and (Gonzales) is the type of player that can do that. Team-wise, everyone did a nice job of sharing the ball.”

The Tigers (4-2, 2-1) seized control of the game late in the first quarter with a 7-0 surge. Butler couldn’t get any closer than 14-9 before halftime and trailed by double digits the entire second half.

“I thought our defense was pretty good there for a while. We held them for three or four possessions, but then we don’t score,” said Epps. “I thought we handled their pressure pretty well. It’s just going to be one thing at a time until we get it all together.”

Devvin LaBarge finished with 10 points for the Tigers, while Meg Morningstar and Taylor Lake chipped in six apiece. Morningstar also pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Alyssa DiPippa had a game-high three steals for the Tornado and Natalie Barkus snagged five boards.

“It’s only the first section game,” said Epps, “so it’s still a young season and we’re going to keep working at it and keep after it.”

BUTLER 34

Cait Baxter 2-11 5-6 9, Kalynn Callihan 0-4 2-2 2, Julia Baxter 0-2 0-0 0, Mackenzie O’Donnell 6-10 7-10 19, Sam Marak 0-6 0-0 0, Alyssa DiPippa 0-6 2-2 2, Natalie Barkus 0-3 0-2 0, Lauren Bresnahan 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Pfabe 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 9-46 16-22 34.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 54

Abby Gonzales 9-11 0-0 21, Devvin LaBarge 4-7 0-0 10, Meg Morningstar 1-8 4-6 6, Danielle Wall 1-2 0-0 2, Maddie Nellis 2-7 0-0 4, Taylor Lake 2-3 2-4 6, Taylor Brennan 2-5 0-0 5, Sarah Clogan 0-0 0-0 0, Lydia Songer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 21-45 6-10 54.

Butler 5 7 9 13—34

North Allegheny14 8 16 16—54

3-point goals: Butler 0-12 (C. Baxter 0-3, Callihan 0-2, Marak 0-2, Pfabe 0-2, J. Baxter 0-1, Barkus 0-1, DiPippa 0-1). North Allegheny 6-13 (Gonzales 3-5, LaBarge 2-3, Brennan 1-2, Nellis 0-3).

JV: North Allegheny 46, Butler 32 (NA: Karlee Helbling, Grace Weiers 10; B: Noel Pfabe 19).

Saturday: Butler vs. Shady Side Academy