WEXFORD — When North Allegheny plays basketball, the Tigers usually rain down 3-pointers.

Not on this night.

The Tigers (16-1, 10-1) managed only three treys, but poured in points regardless in posting an 83-66 Section 3-AAAA victory over Butler Tuesday evening.

“We played well, we just didn't shoot well,” North Allegheny coach Dave DeGregorio said. “Those are two different things.”

What NA did do was force 27 turnovers — 24 through the first three quarters — and stick back offensive rebounds. The Tigers had eight putbacks for buckets.

“And some of those were and-ones,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “One thing you can't do against NA is give them second chances. That's an awfully good team.”

Despite turning the ball over 16 times to the Tigers' eight in the first half, the Golden Tornado (5-12, 2-9) trailed only 38-35 at intermission. The score was tied four times and the lead changed hands seven times in the first half.

Sophomore Andrew Paterno came off the bench to drain three treys in the second quarter, helping Butler wipe out an eight-point deficit.

“Those were big 3s,” Clement said. “They kept us in the game. We know Andrew can shoot the ball. I was impressed with how well he handled NA's pressure in the JV game.

“Their JV's press just like the varsity. He kept his composure and earned some varsity minutes tonight.”

North Allegheny never trailed in the second half, using strong play inside to build a 10-point lead by the end of the third quarter.

The Tigers scored the first 12 points of the fourth period to open up a 70-48 lead, their biggest margin of the night.

“Butler forced us to drive to the hoop and finish, and we did that,” DeGregorio said.

Four NA players reached double figures. Sean Hennigan had 19 points and seven rebounds, Adam Haus 17 points and four steals, R.J. Colabrese 14 points and four assists, Elijah Zeise 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

James Meeker came off the bench to collect four assists and four steals.

“When you play NA, you are going to turn the ball over,” Clement said. “But you're also going to get scoring opportunities you don't get normally because they play so aggressively on the ball.”

Dom Pusateri paced the Tornado with 15 points, adding two assists and two steals. Arum Krause had 13 points, Paterno 12. Nick Patten had eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“That Pusateri plays hard every night. Butler always plays hard,” DeGregorio said. “In Section 3, everybody is a rival. The coaches in this league are going to demand big effort from their kids, whether they're in the playoff chase or not.”

Clement said Pusateri played his best game of the season.

“He left everything he had out on that court,” the coach said. “Dom is finishing this season like a senior should finish. Our seniors in general are doing a good job of bringing the sophomores along. They're helping them, not treating them like they're the enemy.

“If we continue with effort like we got tonight, we may win these last four games.”

BUTLER 66

Dom Pusateri 5-11 5-6 15, Seth Cook 2-3 0-0 4, Keenan Krause 0-2 1-3 1, Zach Neudorfer 1-3 0-0 3, Shae Stobert 0-0 0-0 0, Arum Krause 3-6 7-8 13, Nick Patten 3-10 0-0 8, Luke Hartung 2-3 1-2 6, Luke Tincha 1-1 2-3 4, Mark Gross 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Paterno 4-6 0-0 12, Justice Lewandowski 0-1 0-0 0, Seth Horwat 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-46 16-23 66.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 83

Sean Hennigan 9-13 1-1 19, Andre Sumpter 1-1 0-0 2, Elijah Zeise 6-12 1-2 13, R.J. Colabrese 2-10 10-14 14, David Haus 2-5 1-3 5, Luke Soyster 1-6 4-5 6, Adam Haus 6-13 3-4 17, Joe Mancini 1-4 0-0 3, James Meeker 0-1 4-4 4. Totals: 28-65 24-33 83.

Butler 15 20 13 18—66

North Allegheny17 21 20 25—83

3-point goals: Neudorfer, Patten 2, Hartung, Paterno 4; A.Haus 2, Mancini

JV: North Allegheny, 64-38 (B: Justice Lewandowski 13, Alec Geibel 10; NA: Scott Seel 10,. Luke Gwaltny 10)

Friday: North Hills at Butler