ROSS TWP — Butler missed 14 of its first 16 shots, surrendered a 13-0 run, went longer than eight minutes without a field goal and scored only seven points in the first 12 minutes.

And won.

The Golden Tornado (9-6, 3-3) rallied from a 17-7 deficit midway through the second quarter Tuesday night to post a 46-34 boys basketball triumph at North Hills.

"Shooting is going to be hot and cold," Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "Sometimes the ball just isn't going to go in the basket.

"When you're playing good defense, you can get away with it."

The host Indians' 34 points marked a season-low, surpassing their previous low of 39 against Erie McDowell on Dec. 3.

The Tornado scored the final eight points of the first half — capped by a Cody Fleeger trey with 38 seconds left — after a 13-0 North Hills run gave the Indians their 17-7 lead with 3:56 left in the half.

Three consecutive Jade Burka layups gave Butler a 29-25 lead late in the third quarter. Another Fleeger 3-pointer beat the third-quarter buzzer and stretched the lead to 32-27.

"That was a big 3-pointer because it extended a two-point lead," North Hills coach Joe Falletta said. "Butler finished each of the last three quarters strong. That's the sign of a confident basketball team."

Butler held a 38-32 lead before going 8-for-8 at the foul line in the final 1:04 to put the game away. Blake Anderson, Fleeger, Burka and Nick Martini sank two free throws each.

Over the final three quarters, North Hills (4-11, 2-4) connected on just nine of 40 shots. Butler sank 10 of 17 shots from the floor in the second half after hitting five of 22 in the first two quarters.

"You find out what kind of players you have when they step to the foul line late with the game on the line," Lewandowski said. "I liked what I saw."

Burka led the Tornado with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Fleeger, a sophomore, had 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Point guard Alan Jackson had eight points and seven assists.

"Fleeger stays after every practice and shoots some more," Lewandowski said. "Josh Marchinoski is a senior who doesn't play very much, yet he stays and shoots with him. That's a senior helping a sophomore get better."

Joe Trocchio paced North Hills with 15 points and seven rebounds. C.J. Wink added 12 points and five boards.

The Indians sank only six of 15 free throws.

"Normally, we're a good free throw shooting team," Falletta said. "Tonight we missed foul shots and missed numerous shots in the paint.

"Burka is a good big man and he makes it difficult to score in there. He got his points inside and they made their free throws. That was the difference."

North Hills has yet to win two games in a row this year.

Butler takes a five-game winning streak into Friday's home game against rival New Castle. That game will follow the 6 p.m. New Castle-Butler girls game, which features two teams unbeaten in section play this season.

BUTLER 46

Cody Fleeger 4-12 4-6 14, Nick Martini 0-1 2-2 2, Adam Monday 0-1 0-0 0, Alan Jackson 1-5 2-3 4, Blake Anderson 2-6 2-2 6, Jade Burka 8-14 4-4 20, Aaron Dorondo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-39 14-17 46

NORTH HILLS 34

Cody Patten 0-1 0-0 0, Joe O'Malley 1-5 0-1 2, Joe Trocchio 6-16 3-5 15, Andrew Monahan 2-8 0-2 4, Ryan Monahan 0-0 0-0 0, Dante Anglin 0-0 0-0 0, Drew Falletta 0-7 1-2 1, C.J. Wink 5-12 2-5 12. Totals: 14-49 6-15 34

3-point goals:

Fleeger 2

JV:

North Hills, 45-31 (B-Mike Pratkanis 12, NH-Kyle Henny 13)

Friday:

New Castle @ Butler