JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley boys basketball team might have a long way to go, but the Raiders certainly are headed in the right direction.

Dave Monteleone led all scorers with 15 points and Kevin Mayberry added 14 as the Raiders outlasted a gritty Neshannock squad for a 52-46 victory at Seneca Valley Friday night.

Seneca Valley now has as many wins this season (three) as it ended up with last year.

"The kids are working hard," said Raiders coach Victor Giannotta. "They're making positive decisions at turning points in the game."

With five minutes left in the third quarter, SV held a 28-18 lead. But over the next two minutes the Lancers (2-3) used a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to 28-24.

Raiders senior guard Dan Stanley drained a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the period for a 38-33 advantage.

The Raiders (3-1) forced seven turnovers in the final period and SV was able to pull out a second consecutive win for the first time since

February 2003

.

The Lancers committed 16 turnovers in the game.

"We're not that big of a team, and we have to take care of the basketball," said Neshannock coach Jim Smiley. "Tonight, we had some turnovers at crucial times."

The Raiders struggled on offense early in the game.

Monteleone scored all four of his team's points in the opening quarter, as the Raiders went just 1-of-9 from the field.

SV also was outrebounded 10-3 in the first quarter against a much smaller team.

"I think (Neshannock) had only two baskets tonight that did not come off of an offensive rebound," said Giannotta. "That's just a lack of focus on our part."

The Raiders were able to battle back on the boards and ended with a 32-21 advantage.

SV had the momentum for much of the second quarter, but Neshannock's Angelo Fornataro, who led his team with 11 points, hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer that made it 22-14 in favor of the Raiders.

The Lancers continued to shoot the ball well in the third period, connecting on 9-of-16 shots from the field to keep SV within striking distance.

"Neshannock is a good (Class AA) team and they'll probably make the playoffs," said Giannotta. "But the Shalers and New Castles and Pine-Richlands will come at us with a whole different crop of players."

SENECA VALLEY 52

Dan Stanley 3 0-0 8, Kevin Mayberry 5 4-4 14, Sean Gress 0 1-4 1, Kevin Rohm 0 2-2 2, John Fitzpatrick 2 2-3 6, Shawn Eagle 3 0-0 6, Dave Monteleone 6 3-6 15, Ryan Turner 0 0-0 0, Drew Deitch 0 0-0 0, C.J. Brown 0 0-0 0, John Bryant 0 0-0 0, Pat Heery 0 0-0 0, Gabe Grinder 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 12-19 52.

NESHANNOCK 46

Jimmy Blundo 3 0-0 7, P.J. Horne 2 2-2 6, Mike Anderson 2 0-0 6, Angelo Fornataro 4 0-0 11, Tony Kirkwood 1 0-0 2, Mike Conglose 4 0-0 8, R.J. Altman 1 0-0 2, Ray Hylton 2 0-2 4, Mike Richards 0 0-0 0, Totals: 19 2-4 46.

3-point goals:

Fornataro 3, Anderson 2, Blundo; Stanley 2.

JV:

Seneca Valley, 61-13 (SV-John Fitzpatrick 13 points)

Saturday:

Ellwood City @ Seneca Valley