BUTLER TWP — Matt Clement spoke — and Butler's basketball team listened.

Unhappy with his team's defensive performance in the first two quarters Saturday against North Hills, Clement addressed the issue at halftime.

The Golden Tornado boys allowed only three field goals and 10 points in the second half of a 62-38 Section 3-AAAA victory over the Indians.

“This is how we can play defense when we put our minds to it,” Butler center Bobby Swartwout said. “Now we have to figure out how to do it for four quarters.”

The Tornado (8-6, 4-3) led 30-28 at halftime. The score was tied five times and the lead changed hands twice in the first half.

The second half was no contest.

“I was pleased with the way the kids responded,” Clement said. “You don't expect to hold a team to 10 points in a half in Quad-A basketball. But we shouldn't be giving up 28 in a half, either.

“We need more balanced, consistent play defensively. We need steady, hard-nosed defense for four quarters if we're going to stay with Shaler.”

Butler will carry a four-game winning streak to unbeaten Shaler Tuesday night. The Titans defeated the Tornado by 18 on Butler's floor last month.

The Tornado jumped on North Hills in the third quarter Saturday. Cody Herald drained a trey to begin the quarter and Butler outscored the Indians 16-3 in the first six minutes of the second half.

Leading by 16 after three quarters, Butler kept possession of the ball for the first minute of the fourth period, culminating the possession with a 3-pointer by Cody West.

North Hills (6-9, 0-7) never responded, dropping its sixth straight game while scoring a season-low 38 points.

“They only go eight-deep and we're playing 11 or 12,” Clement said. “The kids are buying into what we want to do. Go all-out for three or four minutes, then go to the bench.

“I think we wore them down. We should be able to do that to some teams.”

North Hills point guard Brody Zangaro fouled out with 2:41 left in the third quarter after picking up four fouls in the second period. The Indians had 16 turnovers to Butler's eight.

“Not having Brody on the floor didn't help, but they (Butler) are much better than us,” North Hills coach Buzz Gabos said. “That proved out as the game went on.

“We gave up way too many two-on-ones, three-on-ones, not giving ourselves a chance to defend.”

Butler had a 38-24 edge in rebounding, including 21-10 in the second half. Swartwout had 20 points and 10 boards for the Tornado with David Tompkins grabbing nine rebounds and Bill Smith five off the bench.

“Tompkins just goes and gets the ball,” Swartwout marveled. “He knows how to get in position and get it done.”

Jake Hilliard came off the bench to get 10 points and four rebounds for Butler.

“Rebounding, defense, getting on the floor, taking charges — all of that is effort and attitude,” Clement said. “I saw a lot of that today.”

Steve Hearty had 15 points and Conor McIntyre nine rebounds for North Hills.

NORTH HILLS 38Nick Marchese 0-0 0-0 0, Brody Zangaro 0-1 0-0 0, Brian Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Sam Tovissi 4-14 1-1 9, Alex Wright 1-4 2-2 5, Andrew Miller 1-5 0-0 3, Conor McIntyre 3-4 0-0 6, Steve Hearty 5-9 5-8 15, Drew Davis 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 14-39 8-11 38.

BUTLER 62Nate Snodgrass 3-10 1-2 7, Trevor Wideman 0-1 0-1 0, Cody West 2-4 0-0 6, Cody Herald 2-7 2-5 7, Zach Slater 0-4 0-0 0, Jake Hilliard 4-5 2-2 10, Bill Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Vinnie Schmidt 3-6 1-4 7, David Tompkins1-5 1-2 3, Bobby Swartwout 9-12 2-3 20.

Totals: 25-57 9-19 62.

North Hills 11 17 4 6—38Butler 16 14 18 14—623-point goals: North Hills 2 (Wright, Miller); Butler 3 (West 2, Herald).

Tuesday: Butler at Shaler