BUTLER TWP— Opportunity to make runs were there. Only Butler never got out of the starting blocks.

The Golden Tornado didn't score more than 10 points in any quarter and never had the lead Tuesday night in suffering a 51-36 home boys basketball loss to North Allegheny.

"We were in position to make a run in the third quarter and again midway through the fourth. We just never got it going offensively,."Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said.

The Tigers (4-2, 1-1) took a 28-20 lead into halftime, but a fastbreak layup by Cole Harvey cut the gap to 32-25 with five minutes left in the third quarter. North Allegheny used a 7-0 run — fueled by three layups off transition — to assume a 39-25 advantage with 2:13 left in the period.

Two free throws by Vinny Schmidt and one by Logan Renwick pulled Butler (3-4, 1-2) back within eight at 41-33 with 4:52 left in the game and the Tornado with possession.

Butler turned the ball over on successive possessions, however, and didn't score again until less than two minutes remained and the Tigers holding a 48-33 edge.

"Our team likes to get down the floor, but Butler forced us into a halfcourt defense quite a bit tonight,"NA coach Dave DeGregorio said. "I was pleased with how we handled that part of the game.

"We weren't giving up many open looks and we were able to take the ball away."

Butler had 25 turnovers on the night and sank only one 3-pointer. Harvey drained a trey in the closing minutes with North Allegheny holding that 15-point lead.

North Allegheny had 19 turnovers, including seven in the fourth quarter.

"We got sloppy with the ball late, but our defense bailed us out,"DeGregorio said.

"We weren't patient enough against that defense,"Lewandowski said. "North Allegheny wants to rush you. They're great with their pressure and you gave to stay composed against it and make plays.

"We didn't do that consistently tonight."

Stephane Batton and Nick Dvorsky paced the Tigers with 15 points each, Batton adding six rebounds. Jeff Haus, NA's 6-foot-5 senior center, grabbed 10 rebounds.

North Allegheny held a 28-18 advantage on the boards.

"They had more field goal attempts than we did because they did well on the offensive boards,"Lewandowski said.

Vinny Schmidt was the only Tornado player in double figures, scoring 10 points. He sank one layup while adjusting to a deflected ball in mid-air, suispending his body long enough to gather the ball in and lay in the shot.

"Vinny is the only one in the gym for us who could have made that play,"Lewandowski said. "He's an extremely athletic kid and he's getting better with every game.

"They had five seniors on the floor, but we can't use experience as an excuse. We have to get used to the physicality of these section games, the intensity of them. You can't have lapses or good teams will take advantage of it. And North Allegheny is a very good team."

Nate Snodgrass and Brian Jendesky both had three assists and three steals for Butler.

Butler returns to action Monday in hosting its annual Christmas Tournament. Knoch, Jeannette and Summit Academy will join the Tornado in the tourney field.

"We're bringing in the defending state champion in Jeannette and they have starters back,"Lewandowski said. "Knoch just beat Hampton and Summit Academy will bring athletes. We're excited about this."

NORTH ALLEGHENY 51Ian Thomas 12-4 3-4 5, Jeff Dassner 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Baierl 2-4 0-0 4, Nick Dvorsky 6-8 2-6 15, Damian Founds 3-5 2-3 9, Ryan Besonson 0-2 0-0 0, Jeff Haus 1-4 1-3 3, Stephane Batton 6-9 3-7 15, Andrew Blumer 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 19-40 11-23 51

BUTLER 36Cole Harvey 3-6 0-1 7, Eric King 0-1 0-0 0, Brian Jendesky 3-3 1-2 7, Logan Renwick 0-1 1-2 1, Jeff Tompkins 2-2 0-0 4, Nate Snodgrass 0-3 1-2 1, Vinny Schmidt 4-9 2-2 10, David Schmidt 0-2 0-0 0, Bob Swartwout 1-5 4-4 6. Totals: 13-32 9-13 36

North Allegheny 16 12 11 12—51Butler 10 10 7 9—363-point goals: Dvorsky, Founds; Harvey

JV: North Allegheny, 69-36 (NA: Jack Arnold 20, B:Dave Tompkins 10)

Monday: Butler Christmas Tournament:Knoch vs. Jeannette, 6 p.m.; Butler vs. Summit Academy, 7:30 p.m.