Boys' Basketball News

by Randy Gore

The North Allegheny boys’ basketball team won its fourth in a row on Friday night with a 48-43 triumph over the Butler Golden Tornado in the Section 1-6A opener at UPMC Court. The Tigers improve to 4-0 on the young season and are off to their best start since going 8-0 to begin the 2021-2022 campaign.

Against section foe Butler, the two teams traded barbs in the early going, with NA grabbing a 7-6 lead on a 3-pointer by senior Will Robertson with 2:59 to go in the first quarter. The Golden Tornado responded with a 9-0 run, culminating on back-to-back buckets by Stainton Forbes and Boden Lenyk in the final four seconds of the opening stanza. Following the Forbes basket, Lenyk stole the Tigers’ inbounds pass and banked in a shot before the buzzer for a 15-7 advantage.

Butler held a 17-9 lead at the beginning of the second quarter before the Tigers answered back with an 11-2 run, capped on a pair of free throws by senior Bobby Dopirak for a 20-19 advantage with 1:39 left in the first half. The one-point lead was short-lived, however, as a 5-2 spurt, including a 3-pointer by Leynk, helped Butler take a 24-22 lead at the half.

Coming out of the locker room to start the third quarter, senior Blake Craft buried a pair of immediate 3-pointers to leapfrog the Tigers ahead, 28-26. From that point on, North Allegheny never trailed again as the sharpshooting Craft helped the Tigers prevail, 48-43. Craft scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half, including all three of his 3-pointers, to earn Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

In the waning seconds, Butler trailed 46-43 with a chance to tie the score with a 3-point attempt by Forbers from the right corner. The well-contested shot by the NA defense rimmed out, and Robertson grabbed the rebound with just nine seconds remaining. Robertson connected on 1-of-2 free throws to make it a two-possession game, putting the contest out of reach for the Golden Tornado. Robertson touched double figures with a 10-point effort.

Following the Robertson free throws, Butler’s desperation pass into the forecourt was stolen by senior Justin Stalter, who tacked on one more free throw before the final buzzer, to bring the final score to 48-43, Tigers.

Along with Stalter, a team effort by the NA defense held 6-6 forward Andrew Gettinger of Butler to a modest 14-point performance. The Edinboro commit was limited to just four baskets in an inefficient night from the field. Forbes, meanwhile, led the Tornado in scoring with a team-high 16 points.

Following the section-opening win, North Allegheny will visit Seneca Valley for another section contest on Tuesday. Butler, who drops to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the section, looks to rebound on Tuesday with a home date against the North Hills Indians.

Boys Basketball Summary at Butler, 12-12-25

SCORE BY QUARTERS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Butler	15	9	8	11	43
North Allegheny	7	15	14	12	48