JACKSON TWP — After a pair of close section losses, Seneca Valley's boys basketball team had its back against the wall entering Friday night's home game against Shaler.

Another loss would have buried the Raiders behind the other six teams in Section 1-6A, but Chris Hart and Co. did not let that happen.

A junior swingman, Hart led all scorers with 19 points in SV's 51-43 victory over the Titans, who are now the only winless team left in the section.

“This was big. We're right back in it now,” said Hart. “We knew it was a must-win and we all came out with intensity tonight.”

“It was good to get a section win,” said Raider coach Victor Giannotta.

Seneca Valley (5-5, 1-2) led 22-19 at halftime and, though the Raiders never trailed for the duration of the game, were unable to shake the Titans until late.

When Payton Skalos got a 3-pointer to fall with 7:18 left in the game, SV's edge was 40-30. But spurred in part by poor free throw shooting from the Raiders, Shaler scored 10 of the next 14 points. Jesse Tavella's 3-pointer cut SV's lead to 44-40 with 1:09 to go.

From there, Skalos and Hart combined to make seven of eight attempts from the line while the Titans' desperation 3-point shots did not fall.

“Seneca Valley executed better than we did down the stretch,” said Shaler coach Rob Niederberger, who has seen his team lose several close games this year, including setbacks to Kiski Area (57-52), Fox Chapel (55-52) and Central Catholic (65-60).

“Our program has been down for a few years,” added Niederberger. “We're to the point now where we are competing with every team, but we need to learn how to win. That's not a cliche, it's a real thing.”

Outside shooting helped keep Shaler (2-9, 0-4) close. The Titans hit nine 3-pointers in the game, but after an early lead, they chased the Raiders the rest of the night.

Kevin McHale and Tanner Reinheimer made three and two outside shots, respectively, but combined for just 18 points.

“We wanted to deny both of them tonight. We knew they could shoot,” Hart said. “We all bought in to the defense.”

Hart put on his own show from beyond the arc early on, hitting three treys in the first quarter, after which SV led 15-11.

“We're asking Chris to be more aggressive on the offensive end and he stepped up tonight,” Giannotta said. “He's scoring and he's making the players around him better, too.”

Senior guard Justin Koken then entered the game, scoring a conventional 3-point play that gave the Raiders a 20-13 cushion. Koken hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 31-22.

“Having Justin come in fresh off the bench has worked well for us,” said Giannotta. “He hit some big shots for us tonight.”

SV will face Altoona in the Don Graham Classic at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic on Saturday before returning to section play Tuesday at Pine-Richland.

SHALER 43

Kevin McHale 3 0-0 9, Anthony Venezia 4 0-3 10, Jesse Tavella 3 0-0 8, Kiki Agbale 2 0-0 4, Matt Tavella 1 1-2 3, Tanner Reinheimer 3 1-2 9, Kevin Haberman 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 2-7 43.

SENECA VALLEY 51

Payton Skalos 1 4-6 7, Patrick Uher 1 3-7 5, Marcus Might 4 0-1 8, Mark Smathers 2 0-2 4, Chris Hart 6 4-4 19, Justin Koken 3 1-1 8, Jacob Bunofsky 0 0-0 0, Nate Trzeciak 0 0-0 0, Cian Iaria 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 12-21 51.

Shaler 11 8 11 13 — 43

Seneca Valley15 7 15 14 — 51

3-point goals: Shaler 9 (McHale 3, Venezia 2, J. Tavella 2, Reinheimer 2); Seneca Valley 5 (Hart 3, Koken, Skalos).

Saturday: Seneca Valley vs. Altoona at CW North Catholic