BUTLER TWP — Jordan Ryan made her second varsity start Thursday night.

The Butler sophomore guard played like a seasoned veteran.

Ryan struck for 19 points — including five treys — in helping the Golden Tornado snap a six-game losing streak with a 53-43 WPIAL Section 1-6A girls basketball win over North Hills at home. Butler dropped a 53-34 decision at North Hills in December.

“We turned the ball over 20 times and shot 3 of 20 from the 3-point line,” Butler coach Mark Maier said of that defeat. “Tonight was totally different.”

The Tornado (9-8, 2-4) turned the ball over 12 times overall, only three times in the first half while building a 10-point lead by intermission. Butler drained 10 treys Thursday.

And the Tornado had Ryan.

Related Article: Every 1,000-point scorer in Butler County: Top boys, girls basketball players at each high school Related Article: Butler girls basketball falls to Hempfield as losses, injuries mount, but Tornado ‘can build off’ game

“Just a superb game,” Maier said of his sophomore. “Jordan has a shooter’s mentality. When the shot is there, take it. She doesn’t hesitate. She doesn’t worry about the result.”

Ryan was thrust into the starting lineup for the first time Monday due to teammates battling injuries. Malina McElroy, Jules Lockwood and Ashton Huff were unavailable again Thursday and guard Eva Stutz played sparingly in the second half due to foul trouble.

“This game will definitely boost my confidence,” Ryan said. “It’s so different starting a game instead of watching it. When I come in off the bench, I know the tone of the game. As a starter, you’re not sure how it’s going to play out.”

Senior Emily Hoffer appreciated the offensive jolt Ryan provided the Tornado Thursday night.

“When she hit a three, it gave us a chance to get back and set our defense,” Hoffer said. “It changes the game. Then we’d get the ball back so she can shoot another one.

“Jordan gave us a boost tonight. I thought everybody played well.”

Ryan said she never worries about a missed shot.

“I treat every time we have the ball like a new possession,” she said. “If I missed my previous shot, so what? Just try again. I always believe it’s going to go in.”

A Ryan layup, followed by a Payton Kamerer trey, gave Butler its biggest lead of the night at 33-18 with 5:08 left in the third quarter. Kamerer left the game for a while in the fourth period after taking a blow to the head.

She returned to action after holding an ice pack to the side of her face on the bench.

The Indians (6-9, 3-3) whittled their deficit to four at 44-40 with 4:43 remaining. Ryan responded with a trey and two free throws each by Stutz and Hoffer sealed the deal with 2:09 left. Those points gave the Tornado a 51-43 edge before Hoffer scored the game’s final points on a layup.

“This win changes the face of the playoffs for us,” Maier said. “And I loved how we played down the stretch. We didn’t let it get away.”

North Hills, which had won three of its last four games, never had the lead in this one.

Hoffer contributed 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals to Butler’s cause. Kamerer had 10 points and four rebounds. Campbell Clouse came off the bench to grab seven rebounds as the Tornado enjoyed a 35-23 edge on the boards.

“Emily contributes in so many ways and does it so quietly,” Maier said. “That’s just her demeanor. She’s a calming influence on the rest of the team.”

“I’m not the only one,” Hoffer said of producing a total floor game. “We have a lot of girls on this team who can do a lot of things.”

Delaney Amato paced North Hills with 16 points and seven rebounds. Zoe Devlin, a sophomore, had 15 points and two steals.

NORTH HILLS 43

Zoe Devlin 5-14 4-6 15, Delaney Amato 4-14 6-6 16, Sophia Regan 1-3 0-0 3, Emma Culver 0-1 0-0 0, Lucy Pirring 0-2 0-0 0, Lily Zickefoose 3-12 2-2 9, Keally Zickefoose 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 13-47 12-14 43.

BUTLER 53

Campbell Clouse 1-3 1-2 3, Eva Stutz 2-4 2-2 8, Payton Kamerer 3-6 1-2 10, Emily Hoffer 3-7 5-6 11, Emily Cornish 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Dick 1-1 0-0 2, Jordan Ryan 7-17 0-0 19. Totals: 17-39 9-12 53.

North Hills 9 7 17 10 - 43

Butler 18 8 15 12 - 53

3-point goals: North Hills 5 (Devlin, Amato 2, Regan, L.Zickefoose), Butler 10 (Stutz 2, Kamerer 3, Ryan 5)

Tuesday: Butler at Woodland Hills