ALIQUIPPA - The game was there for the taking - before New Castle took it away.

The Red Hurricane outscored Butler 11-1 in the final five minutes to secure a 44-38 victory in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA girls basketball tournament Friday night at Aliquippa High School.

"Same old story for us," Butler coach Dorothea Epps said. "We haven't learned how to play well with the lead."

"We called a time out once we fell behind and the girls told me they weren't going to lose this game," New Castle coach LuAnn Grybowski said. "They said they weren't rattled."

Then they returned to the floor and proved it.

Butler (14-12) had just completed a 10-0 run of its own, turning a 33-27 deficit into a 37-33 lead with 5:12 left in the game.

A Kelly Miller layup was followed by a Heather Spangler steal and layup to cut the gap to 33-31. Freshman center Amy Achesinski, who was playing with four fouls, sank a layup to knot the game with 6:50 to go.

Miller hit a free throw and converted a three-point play to give the Golden Tornado the lead. New Castle got off only one shot and suffered five turnovers during the surge.

"We didn't do anything differently at that point," Grybowski said. "We didn't turn up the pressure or change our offense. The girls just made some clutch plays."

Butler turned the ball over twice with the lead down the stretch. A bucket by New Castle's Ashley Wise and two free throws by Jaleah Robinson knotted the game at 37 with 1:49 to play.

The Tornado led 37-35 when Achesinski, who played most of the game in foul trouble, was called for her fifth foul while trying to retrieve a loose basketball. Robinson sank the tying free throws as a result of the play.

"I thought it was a loose ball. The official thought differently," Epps said. "You can't tell a player not to dive for a loose basketball.

"As soon as we sat Amy down in this game, they started going to the basket. That was a major factor."

Grybowski agreed.

"With Achesinski out of there, we could pound the ball inside and they couldn't," she said.

Freshman forward Jalessa Sams stole the ball at mid-court and scored to give the 'Canes a 39-37 lead with 1:20 left.

Miller sank one of two free throws with 1:11 to go and the Tornado regained possession on a jump ball. New Castle's Samantha Karns missed two free throws with 49 seconds to go and Sams grabbed the rebound.

After Sams sank a free throw for a 40-38 lead, Miller drove to the basket but could not convert. The Hurricane's Maria Joseph sank two free throws with 25 seconds left for a four-point lead.

Spangler got to the basket with 12 seconds left, but failed to score. New Castle (23-4) added two free throws in the final six seconds to account for the 44-38 final score.

"We missed free throws and couldn't hit layups," Epps said. "You can't make mistakes like that when you're playing the WPIAL champions."

Butler had 22 turnovers to New Castle's 17. The Tornado had a 25-18 rebounding edge.

Wise scored 20 points for New Castle with Sams adding nine.

"This wasn't a pretty win, but it's a W and that's all you want to come away with at this point," Grybowski said. "We know we were very lucky to win this game."

Miller paced Butler with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals. Achesinski added 11 points.

The score was tied seven times and the lead changed hands eight times. Neither team ever led by more than six.

New Castle will play Bethel Park (22-3) - a 57-56 winner over Erie McDowell Friday - in the next round.

Butler says goodbye to seniors Spangler, Danielle Koehring and Maria Klutinoty.

"We will sorely miss them," Epps said. "They worked hard every minute they were here.

"Amy and Kelly are back, but we need to develop some other players. Still, we have a big girl and a point guard and that's not a bad place to start."

NEW CASTLE 44

Ryenn Micalletti 1-1 2-4 4, Natalie Wallace 1-5 0-0 2, Maria Joseph 0-2 3-4 3, Shirl Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Jalessa Sams 4-7 1-2 9, Jaleah Robinson 2-5 2-4 6, Ashley Wise 7-12 5-9 20. Totals: 15-33 13-23 44

BUTLER 38

Danielle Koehring 1-3 2-2 4, Kelly Miller 4-12 3-5 11, Kala Schnur 0-1 0-0 0, Amy Achesinski 5-6 1-1 11, Ashley Brenckle 1-3 0-0 2, Samantha Karns 0-4 1-4 1, Maria Klutinoty 0-0 0-0 0, Heather Spangler 4-7 0-0 9. Totals: 15-36 7-12 38

3-point goals:

Wise; Spangler