Twenty-four hours after a terrific start to a game, the North Hills ninth-grade boys basketball team started Wednesday's game a little sluggishly. But the ending was what North Hills wanted.

North Hills picked up a 58-50 road victory against Mt. Lebanon to run the Indians' winning streak to eight games and lift their record to 8-1.

Some early turnovers and a defense with some holes in it caused North Hills to fall behind by six points in the first quarter and the Indians trailed by 16-15 after the first stanza. Joe Lutz provided a spark off the bench for North Hills with two 3-pointers in the first quarter.

North Hills held Mt. Lebanon to six second-quarter points and took a 28-22 lead into the break. North Hills opened up a double-digit lead a few times in the second half, but Mt. Lebanon came back to make things close a few times. North Hills pulled away down the stretch.

Nathan Schanbacher led North Hills with 24 points, 17 in the second half. Jackson Long pitched in with 11 and a handful of nice assists. Aaron Loritts had eight points and nine rebounds.

North Hills is next in action Friday at home against Shady Side Academy. Game time is 3:30 at the Senior High gym.