WEXFORD — For the second time this season, a Seneca Valley boys basketball game against North Allegheny came down to a last-second shot.

And for the second time, the Raiders came up on the short end of it.

SV senior guard Payton Skalos released a shot four feet inside the halfcourt line just before the buzzer. The attempt looked good until it bounced off the back of the rim, preserving for the host Tigers a 54-52 section victory Tuesday night.

In the teams’ first meeting Jan. 13, the Tigers won 36-34 on Curtis Aiken’s jumper as time expired.

A guaranteed WPIAL Class 6A playoff berth was there for the taking to the game’s winner. The Tigers (12-7, 6-5) were more than happy to claim it, while the Raiders’ playoff hopes are still in doubt.

“Our kids deserved this,” said Tiger coach Keith Noftz. “They worked as hard as I’ve seen them work this year.

“These two teams are that evenly matched,” he added of the two games being decided by a combined four points. “This section is ridiculous. On any given night, any team can beat another. It means a lot for us to make the playoffs out of this section.”

For Seneca Valley coach Victor Giannotta, a break in the team’s scoring was a key factor.

The Raiders failed to score a point in a critical three and a half minute stretch, beginning midway through the final quarter. It was during that span that the Tigers went on a 7-0 run and took the lead for good.

“That’s been the story of our season,” he said. “We compete, play good defense and rebound, but every so often, we go into a scoring drought.”

SV’s last points before the lull came when Skalos hit a pair of free throws, giving the Raiders a 45-43 edge with 4:24 left in the game.

North Allegheny tied the game 28 seconds later on Zach Johnson’s bucket. Then, with 2:30 left, senior Devin Bluemling sank his only make of the game, a trey that put the Tigers up 48-45.

The Raiders’ offense came out of its funk, with Chris Hart making a shot and Justin Koken knocking down a trey that helped SV pull to within 53-50. Another bucket from Hart cut the deficit to one point with seven seconds left. The Raiders fouled Isaac Barnes, who made 1-of-2 from the line before Skalos’ near-miss at the other end.

Aiken was again a thorn in SV’s side, scoring a game-high 18 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. His two free throws with 34 seconds left in the game pushed NA’s cushion to 52-47.

“Aiken is 84 percent from the line this season,” said Noftz. “So when he’s there, we feel pretty confident.”

“He was the difference in the game,” Giannotta said of Aiken. “Every time they needed a basket, he got it.”

Hart paced the Raiders with 13 points and Skalos contributed 10.

Seneca Valley (12-9, 5-6) still holds its fate in its own hands. A win over visiting Butler on Friday will send the Raiders to the postseason.

Not bad for a team that was 1-4 after five section games.

“We’ll take it,” Giannotta said of his team’s chances. “We’ll be ready.”

SENECA VALLEY 52

Payton Skalos 3 2-2 10, Patrick Uher 3 2-3 9, Justin Koken 2 0-0 6, Marcus Might 2 2-2 6, Mark Smathers 3 2-2 8, Chris Hart 5 3-4 13, Nate Trzeciak 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 11-13 52.

NORTH ALLEGHENY 54

Zach Johnson 5 1-2 11, Luke Carter 3 0-0 9, Curtis Aiken 6 3-6 18, Devin Bluemling 1 0-0 3, Griffin Sestili 2 0-0 4, Isaac Barnes 3 3-6 9, Ray Sandherr 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 7-14 54.

Seneca Valley 11 18 9 14 — 52

North Allegheny11 17 10 16 — 54

3-point goals: Seneca Valley 5 (Skalos 2, Koken 2, Uher); North Allegheny 7 (Carter 3, Aiken 3, Bluemling).

Friday: Butler at Seneca Valley