For the first time in 47 days, the North Hills boys 9th grade boys basketball team walked out of a gym after a game with a loss.

North Hills took a 13-game winning streak to Upper St. Clair Wednesday for a showdown between two of the better ninth-grade teams in the area. North Hills was 13-1 and had won 13 in a row since a season-opening loss Dec. 2. Upper St. Clair had only two losses, one to North Hills in the North Allegheny Tournament in late December.

In what was a terrific game with many changes in momentum, Upper St. Clair edged North Hills, 67-66.

The second half of the game had a number of lead changes. North Hills had the ball for the last shot of the game, but a shot inside the key rolled around the rim and out.

North Hills had three players in double figures. Nathan Schanbacher led with 23 points, Jackson Long had 17 and Ethan Guszczynski 9.

The loss came one day after North Hills got a big win at Hampton, 56-48. In that game, North Hills trailed at the half, 31-28, but held Hampton to 15 points in the final two quarters. 

Guszczynski was key to the win, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the third quarter when North Hills outscored Hampton, 22-10, to take control of the game. Schanbacher scored 23 and Aaron Loritts 7.

North Hills will try to get back on the winning track Friday when it plays a home game Friday against Fox Chapel. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at the Senior High. Come on out and check out the team.