North Allegheny hosted the North Hills Indians on Friday night in the first game of a girls/boys basketball doubleheader at UPMC Court. The Tigers got off to a great start, but North Hills fought back in the second half and NA fell by a score of 42-39.

The offense was working early for North Allegheny as they scored the first five points of the game and jumped out to a 13-5 lead after a quarter of play.

The second quarter was much more even, but the Tigers continued to keep the Indians at arm’s length, taking a 20-13 lead into the locker rooms.

North Hills made their move in the third quarter. After NA got the opening points of the period, the Indians went on an 11-0 run and took a 24-22 lead. The Tigers tied the game at 24, but trailed 28-25 going into the fourth quarter. Just like the second period, things were even, but this time it was North Hills keeping North Allegheny at arm’s length. Trailing 42-36 late in the fourth quarter, Vange Balouris hit a three-pointer to make the score 42-39, but the Indians would run out the clock and escape with the win.

Balouris led the Tigers with 17 points. Rosalia Varlotta added 13 points. For her efforts offensively, on the glass and guarding North Hills’ top scorer Zoe Devlin in the second half, Varlotta was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

North Allegheny falls to 5-7 overall and 1-3 in the section. North Hills improves to 4-7 overall and 2-2 in section play. The Tigers return to action on Monday when they travel to Butler to take on the Golden Tornado in an important section contest at 7 p.m.