PLUM — Seneca Valley boys basketball coach Vic Giannotta wanted his team to get off to a strong start in Friday's WPIAL Quad A preliminary round playoff game against Franklin Regional.

A stronger finish proved to be even better.

The Raiders were a sizzling 16-of-19 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, including 13-of-16 in the final 1:38, to give Seneca Valley a 59-49 victory over the Panthers at Plum High, the first postseason triumph in the program's history.

"We talked about the first three minutes being the key," said Giannotta. "We didn't want to be down. We responded every time they had a run."

Cases in point:

• The Raiders (13-12) used an 11-2 run to take a 16-7 lead in the first quarter as six different players scored.

"That was huge," said Raiders senior guard Pat Heery. "If we come out slow, then we're the ones trying to come back."

The Panthers, however, countered with an 11-1 run, including nine points from Tommy Summer off the bench, to take a 20-19 lead in the second quarter.

• Seneca Valley closed out the half with the last six points, including two clutch baskets from Kevin Rohm, the last with two seconds left for a 25-20 lead.

The Panthers (13-11) then started the third quarter fast and tied the game at 25.

• Seneca Valley answered with the next six points to open a 31-25 lead and led 37-29 with 7:32 remaining in the game.

Franklin Regional received a 3-pointer from Ryan Pavlik and a score by Summer in a 23-second span to trim the deficit to three points.

A three-point play by the Raiders' C.J. Brown made it 40-34, but an 8-2 spurt by the Panthers knotted the game at 42 with 4:27 left.

Rohm scored 14 seconds later to give the Raiders a lead they would not lose. Kevin Mayberry added a pair of free throws, but Summer answered with a basket with 3:40 left to make it a two-point game.

The Panthers then began fouling and the Raiders made good on their opportunities at the line, going 8-for-10 in a 45-second span to take a 54-44 lead with 53 seconds left.

"We made 15-of-18 (over the final four minutes) and didn't turn the ball over," said Giannotta. "Pat Heery and Kevin Rohm did a good job, and (Rohm) had a big game."

"We're the first team to say that we won a playoff game," said Heery. "That's a goal for other teams to get better. In the past, goals were to go .500 or win a few games, but we need for every year to make the playoffs or win the WPIAL."

Heery and Brown had 11 points apiece for Seneca Valley while Rohm added 10 and Mayberry had nine.

The Raiders dropped eight games this year by seven points or fewer. Being in those close games, as well as playing in rugged Section 3, have helped the team become battle ready.

"We're 1-0 right now. I'm happy for the kids, happy for the coaches, happy for the school and I'm happy we're playing Moon, the No. 1 seeded team," said Giannotta.

Notes: Summer scored 16 points and Nick Novak 15 to lead the Panthers. No other player had more than four points for the team.

FRANKLIN REGIONAL 49Nick Novak 6 2-2 15, Anthony Vendemia 2 0-0 4, Marko Cepko 1 1-4 3, Corey Friend 0 0-0 0, Ryan Fletcher 1 0-0 3, Dino DeFlavio 1 0-0 3, Jake Higgins 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pavlik 1 0-0 3, J.W. Gulaskey 1 0-0 2, Matt McCrossin 0 0-0 0, Tommy Summer 7 2-4 16.

Totals: 20 5-10 49.

SENECA VALLEY 59Gabe Grinder 2 0-0 5, Pat Heery 3 5-8 11, C.J. Brown 4 3-3 11, John Fitzpatrick 3 1-2 7, Shawn Eagle 1 0-0 2, Kevin Mayberry 2 5-6 9, Kevin Rohm 3 4-4 10, John Bryant 0 0-0 0, Jarrett Shotts 1 2-4 4.

Totals: 19 20-27 59.

Franklin Regional 10 10 7 22—49Seneca Valley 16 9 10 24—593-point goals: Novak, DeFlavio, Pavlik, Fletcher; Grinder

Tuesday: Seneca Valley vs. Moon at North Allegheny, 8 p.m.