BUTLER TWP — Back to the drawing board.

That's where the Butler boys basketball program is headed following Friday night's 86-55 drubbing at the hands of North Allegheny.

“I've had my back to the wall a million times in my life,” Golden Tornado coach Matt Clement said.

This is definitely one of them for Butler (4-6, 1-3), which has lost three in a row.

Friday's game turned into a nightmare in the second quarter when the Tigers (9-2, 2-1) went on a 15-0 run to begin the period, extending their lead to 30-10.

During the run, Butler assistant coach Jim Gallagher was ejected from the contest after being charged with two technical fouls.

While North Allegheny won its seventh straight game and surpassed the 80-point plateau for the third time this season, Butler has allowed 130 points in its past six quarters.

And Clement has seen enough.

“I don't care if we win a game 14-10 at some point ... the five guys who are going to start for us are going to square up, plant and defend,” he said. “Defense has to come first.

“If you're not playing strong, hard defense, you're not going to play.”

North Allegheny sank 33 of 50 shots from the floor, making only 10 fewer shots than Butler attempted. The Tornado were 17 of 43 from the floor.

The Tigers' lead peaked at 34 with seconds left in the game.

“We got after it on defense — every single player out there,” NA coach Dave DeGregorio said. “We created opportunities for ourselves and played as a team.

“We played the way I expect us to play. But coming in here and winning by 30? I don't expect to beat anybody by 30 anywhere.”

Anthony Dallier paced the Tigers with 20 points and eight rebounds. Anton Constantino had 13 points. Eleven players scored for NA.

North Allegheny graduated three starters and its sixth man from a year ago. Three players — two of whom receive starters' minutes — were members of the school's state championship football team and didn't join the basketball squad until after Christmas.”

Butler had 22 turnovers in the loss. Jake Hilliard and Cody Herald had 15 points each.

“We were reeling a bit after the Pine-Richland game (Tuesday night) and North Allegheny did what good teams do to teams that are even slightly reeling: They stomped us out,” said Clement.

“Some people are going to think it's over, watching us lose by 30 on our home floor. But this season's not over. Any player who doesn't want to respond to a game like this shouldn't be in my locker room.”

Butler plays consecutive nonsection games Monday and Tuesday before returning to league play.

“I could spend 65 hours yelling at guys about stuff we did wrong tonight,” Clement said. “But this is on me. It's my responsibility to have us prepared.

“We're going to get back to work. I'm tired of hearing about how good our section is. We're part of that section and we need to be that good. The mentality around here has to change.

“It's my job to figure out how to beat teams like North Allegheny and Shaler because that's what we have to do,” Clement added.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 86Chris Conti 1-1 0-0 3, Ron Colabrese 0-0 0-0 0, Ty Neff 1-2 0-1 2, Hashim Hyder 0-0 0-0 0, Anthony Dallier 7-13 4-5 20, J.C. Howard 3-3 2-2 9, Anton Constantino 5-7 1-4 13, Scott Blumer 1-1 0-0 2, Steve Ferringer 0-2 2-2 2, Byrum Louco 5-7 0-0 10, Patrick Yates 0-1 0-0 0, Kevin Cope 2-5 2-2 7, Ricky Minsterman 4-4 2-2 10, Maleak Potter 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Harvey 4-4 0-0 8.

Totals: 33-50 13-18 86.

BUTLER 55Nate Snodgrass 1-1 0-1 3, Trevor Wideman 0-0 0-0 0, Cody West 0-3 0-0 0, Cody Herald 3-9 7-9 15, Zach Slater 1-2 3-4 5, Jake Hilliard 7-13 1-2 15, Bill Smith 0-0 1-2 1, Vinnie Schmidt 3-7 0-0 6, David Tompkins 0-0 0-0 0, Bobby Swartwout 2-4 3-7 8, Matt Baranchak 0-3 2-5 2, Tanner Wahler 0-0 0-0 0, Luke Hartung 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-43 17-29 55.

North Allegheny 15 27 20 24—86Butler 10 9 19 17—553-point goals: North Allegheny 7 (Conti, Dallier 2, Constantino 2, Howard, Cope); Butler 4 (Snodgrass, Herald 2, Swartwout).

Junior varsity: North Allegheny, 63-54 (NA: Ty Neff 14, Sean Hennigan 10, Hashim Hyder 10; B: Matt Baranchak 17, Cody West 9)

Monday: Butler at Carrick