Week Ends on a Tiger-ific Note, Sets Stage for Senior Night

            “They’re Grrrrreat!!!” Just quoting a friend of mine (Tony the Tiger) on how to describe what North Allegheny should be thinking about both the Butler boys’ and girls’ basketball teams right about now. Well, I’ll get back to all of that in a minute.

            First, while I have everyone’s attention, I would like to alert you to my status as an announcer and as a columnist for this fine website. First, due to my collegiate commitments (classes and the like) I will probably be announcing my final boys’ game of the season against North Hills at Senior Night (the Ambridge game is currently up in the air). It has been an honor to work with a group of players and coaches that are truly first-class. Second-year coach Joe Lewendowski looks to have this team in the right direction with the best yet to come. I will also be missing the upcoming girls’ game with Mt. Lebanon for the same reasons. Hopefully the girls can put up another “W” in the win column in this big non-section game.

            As for my writing duties, I plan to continue the same weekly schedule I am currently on (unless the entire Internet crashes, or I get canned). That’s enough of all that, on to the games.

            Friday, January 9th was more like Friday the 13th for the Tornado, with both the girls and boys losing to the New Castle Red Hurricanes 52-45 and 60-47, respectively. Both NC teams seemed to be on a mission in front of the near capacity crowd. Butler was led by Amy Achesinski with 16 points and Kelly Miller with 12 for the girls, Tyrell Sales with 16, Nate Hartung with 12 and Jarrod Markle with 9 (3 treys) for the boys.

            The boys’ weekend had just begun, however, because the very next day the team (with myself included) took a 2+ hour bus ride to Cleveland, Ohio, for a game against Coach Lewendowski’s alma mater St. Ignatius. The Wildcats came out on top 57-44. The Tornado led until the 4:03 mark in the second quarter when Sales and Hartung became hampered with foul trouble that would continue throughout the game. The scoring for Butler was evenly spread out with Sales with 9, Hartung and Kyle Shaffer with 7 and Markle with 6. Shaffer and Markle each had two treys. Hopefully before the season concludes, we will be able to put together a single page just about the trip, with pictures from the hotel (a Hilton), the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center.

            As soon as the boys returned, they had to redirect their attention toward the next night at Kiski Area. And that they did with a 62-51 victory over the Cavaliers. Unfortunately, the girls didn’t quite fair as well at Upper St. Clair where they dropped to the Lady Trojans by a score of 63-44. The girls’ game at Franklin Regional was postponed due to inclement weather conditions, so it’s on to the NA double-header.

            Friday, January 16th was a night to behold “up on the hill.” First the girls. North Allegheny jumped out to an 11-0 lead on then Lady Tornado, leaving many spectators shaking their heads in disbelief. But in true Tornado fashion, the girls stormed back and went on a 19-6 run and went into the half trailing by only four. Butler, unlike some of their past games where they slowed down after the intermission, fired away at the Lady Tigers and took a four point lead into the fourth quarter and eventually won the game. Butler was led by Danielle Koehring with 18 points, Kelly Miller with 15, Heather Spangler with 12 and Amy Achesinski with 8.

            In the second half of the double header, the Butler boys out and out dominated NA 50-37. There’s not much to say other than that Butler kept the crowd into the game all night long and never let up on the pressure. Nate Hartung led the boys with 14 points, Jarrod Markle with 12 (2 treys) and Tyrell Sales with 11.

            Stat of the Week—The sheer will to win showed by both teams against North Allegheny in a playoff-like atmosphere. (I know that’s not really a stat, but whatever.)

            Upcoming Games: Girls at Shaler (1/19/04); Boys at Shaler (1/20/04); Girls host Mt. Lebanon (1/20/04); SENIOR NIGHT = Girls and Boys host North Hills (1/23/04).

            SENIOR NIGHT = Come out to help us honor all of our Senior Girls (Danielle Koehring, Maria Klutinoty, Heather Spangler), Senior Boys (Dan Andreassi, Jon Galante, Bobby Freshwater, Justin Ehrman, Adam Palace, Joel Rehm, Tyrell Sales), and Senior Cheerleaders between the girls’ varsity game and the boys’ varsity game.