BUTLER TWP— Butler lost Mike Pratkanis early and didn't lose its composure late — but North Allegheny made sure the Golden Tornado lost at the end.

Senior guard Steve Kirsch sank both ends of one-and-ones with 33.3 and 22.7 seconds left and the Tigers did not allow an open look for a game-tying 3-pointer in holding off Butler 65-64 in boys basketball play Friday night.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Butler (9-4, 2-3). The win kept North Allegheny (13-1, 5-0) unbeaten in the section.

"We made a couple of plays at the end to win,"NAcoach Dave DeGregorio said. "That was the only difference."

Butler jumped on the Tigers for a 16-5 lead in the first seven minutes, but lost senior center Pratkanis in the process. He injured an ankle during a collision under the basket less than four minutes into the game and did not return.

The game tightened shortly thereafter, as North Allegheny used a 12-0 run to turn a 20-9 deficit into a 21-20 lead with 5:51 left in the first half.

"I don't know the situation with Mike's ankle right now,"Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "If he could have played, he definitely would have."

The Tornado built another lead at 32-23, but the Tigers' 10-0 run wiped out that deficit.

From that point on, it was a dogfight, with neither team leading by more than five points the rest of the way.

The lead changed hands 11 times and the score was tied five times during the final three quarters.

"This was a classic high school game,"DeGregorio said, shaking his head.

Butler trailed 56-53 when freshman pivot Bobby Swartwout, seeing extended minutes with Pratkanis out, stuck back an offensive rebound and completed the three-point play with 1:31 remaining.

Dan Kusyner answered for the Tigers, draining a 3-pointer seconds later. North Allegheny never trailed again.

"That was a big shot because it gave us the lead, but it didn't take away their momentum,"DeGregorio said. "They kept coming at us."

Jeff Slater sank two free throws with 1:01 left to cut the NAlead to 59-58. Swartwout stuck back another offensive board to pull Butler within 61-60 with 36 seconds left.

Swartwout canned a layup with 24.7 seconds left to pull the Tornado within 63-62. But the Tigers kept converting points at the other end.

"Bobby Swartwout gave us a lot of quality minutes tonight,"Lewandowski said. "What we missed not having Mike was his rebounding and his ability to deter shots with his long arms.

"They got a lot of buckets inside they may not have gotten if he was defending the post. Plus, we lose that experienced presence inside."

Kirsch's final two free throws gave the Tigers a 65-62 lead with 22.7 seconds left. Butler called a timeout with 10 seconds on the clock.

Cody Fleeger got off a 3-point shot from the right baseline with a hand in his face. It bounced off the rim and Nick Rossmiller laid in the rebound just before time expired.

Ted Connolly paced NAwith 15 points, seven in the fourth quarter. Kusyner added 12 and Kirsch 10.

Fleeger had 17 points and seven rebounds for Butler. Rossmiller added 12 points and six boards, Slater had 11 points and five assists, and Swartwout had 10 points and six rebounds.

"Fleeger's one of the best players in this section,"Lewandowski said. "He does so many things for us."

Both teams had 12 turnovers. NAhad a 33-25 edge in rebounds.

"Top to bottom, this is the best our section's been in five years,"DeGregorio said. "Every team has great individual players and every team is well-coached.

"Any section win is a big win, but there's a long way to go yet. We're not even halfway done."

Butler's junior varsity lost its first game, 50-49, despite 14 points from Jeff Tompkins.

NORTHALLEGHENY 65Ted Connolly 5-8 5-11 15, Damian Founds 1-3 0-1 2, Jeff Finke 3-10 1-3 7, Stephane Batton 3-3 2-3 8, Dan Kusyner 5-10 0-0 12, Geoff Greco 0-4 1-2 1, Jeff Haus 1-2 0-0 2, Steve Kirsch 3-5 4-4 10, Nick Dvorsky 3-8 0-0 8, Jordan Baierl 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-54 13-23 65

BUTLER 64Mike Pratkanis 1-1 0-0 2, Jeff Slater 3-9 4-4 11, Cody Fleeger 4-10 7-8 17, Clark Liebler 1-2 0-0 2, Austin Snodgrass 0-0 2-2 2, Logan Renwick 0-0 0-0 0, Nick Rossmiller 5-11 2-3 12, Jeff Tompkins 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Melder 0-0 0-0 0, Christos Klutinoty 3-9 1-2 8, Bob Swartwout 4-5 2-2 10. Totals: 21-47 18-21 64

North Allegheny 12 21 9 23—65Butler 20 14 12 18—643-point goals: Kusyner 2, Dvorsky 2; Slater, Fleeger 2, Klutinoty

JV: North Allegheny, 50-49 (NA: Jeff Dassner 11, B:Jeff Tompkins 14, Logan Renwick 11)

Tuesday: Butler at New Castle