The season didn't get off to a swell start for the North Hills freshman boys basketball team, losing its first game on the road to rival North Allegheny. But things have been pretty good for North Hills ever since. And they got a little better this past Friday.

North Hills ran its winning streak to four games with a 47-41 victory against Avonworth at the North Hills Senior High gym. North Hills is now 4-1.

After a slow start, North Hills opened up a 10-point lead in the second quarter and led by 23-15 at halftime. The lead got to as much as 12 in the second half before Avonworth came back and sliced the deficit to three points a few different times. But North Hills used some good foul shooting to get some cushion.

North Hills led by 47-38 before a 3-pointer at the buzzer made the final, 47-41. North Hills shot 81% (18 of 22) from the free-throw line for the game.

Nathan Schanbacher led North Hills with 21 points, including 17 in the first half. He made 9 of 9 free throws for the game and had 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Jackson Long scored 18 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Aaron Loritts had 7 rebounds.

North Hills' next game is Tuesday at Shaler.