ROSS TWP — The Butler girls basketball team is measuring success by a different metric.

Statistics like points per game, assists, turnover differential and rebounds are out.

Statistics like “first to the floor” are in.

Even wins and losses are an afterthought for the Golden Tornado and their coach of barely a week, Joe Lewandowski.

“We understand the situation here,” Lewandowski said. “It’s a work in progress and they are continuously working. What I like about them is they have a great attitude. We’re constantly coaching. You have to coach to the very end. You are doing nothing else but trying to get better every day.”

In doing that, however, there are going to be nights like the one Butler experienced at North Hills Thursday night.

The Indians (2-2, 1-0) went on a 15-0 run in the first half, led 21-3 at one point late in the second quarter and cruised to a 54-24 win over the Tornado (0-4, 0-1).

That is of little importance right now to Butler. Lewandowski is looking at the micro instead of the macro when it comes to the result.

“It’s almost like you take two steps forward one day, then a half-step forward the next and maybe the next day you take three steps forward,” Lewandowski said. “As long as we’re making progress. They are committed and working hard.

“We have a stat, ‘first to the floor,’” Lewandowski added. “And we were the first to the floor on every single loose ball. That’s pretty impressive. And we do that all the time. That’s the positives you build on.”

Two more positives were the play of sophomore forward Jenna Kunst and freshman forward Julia Gibson.

Kunst scored Butler’s first seven points and finished with nine. Gibson came off the bench to score six points to go with six rebounds.

“You have a freshman coming in there off the bench giving you six points and six rebounds. That’s pretty impressive,” Lewandowski said. “You have Jenna Kunst who is a sophomore making great plays. So what you are trying to do is just build some momentum and keep working. Keep working.”

North Hills also has some adversity this season.

The Indians have a very thin roster and the starters had to play most of the game out of necessity.

“We had a tough weekend where we didn’t finish some games,” said North Hills coach Lauren Wilmus. “Tonight we played four full periods offensively and defensively. Obviously, we don’t have a bench. When we get tired, we have bad habits. Today we didn’t fall into the trap.”

North Hills does have Jamie Halloran. The senior guard poured in 19 points and was all over the floor on defense.

“I wish I had her for another year, for one, but the nice thing is she has bought into the process. She has bought in and molded into our system. She’s thriving under it.”

She also set up her teammates, namely Sierra Underman and Anna Tresser.

Ungerman finished with 12 points and Tresser 11.

For Butler, there is no clear timetable for when the focus returns to mainstream numbers like that in gaging its success.

“What you are always looking for is this: what kind of energy are they giving and what kind of effort are they giving?” Lewandowski said. “And they gave tremendous amounts of both.”

BUTLER 24

Melea Barlow 1-3 0-0 2, Jenna Kunst 4-8 1-2 9, Sydney Hanratty 0-2 0-0 0, Noel Pfabe 0-1 0-0 0, Kelsee Callihan 0-2 0-0 0, Julia Gibson 2-3 2-2 6, Tiana Schaffner 1-3 0-0 2, Kailey Olenick 1-11 1-2 4, Liz Kuhn 0-0 1-2 1, Autumn Rodgers 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Gage 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 9-33 5-8 24.

NORTH HILLS 54

Jordan O’Malley 2-4 0-0 5, Jamie Halloran 6-16 4-4 19, Kristen Collins 3-4 0-0 7, Sierra Ungerman 6-7 0-0 12, Leah Ussack 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Taschner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-38 8-10 54.

Butler 2 8 5 9 — 54

North Hills11 15 16 12 — 24

3-point goals: Butler 1 (Olenick); North Hills 6 (O’Malley, Halloran 3, Tresser, Collins)

JV: Butler 29-14

Monday: Shaler at Butler