JACKSON TWP — He didn't see it coming, which made it all the more difficult for Rob Lombardo to watch.

Seneca Valley's girls basketball coach spent most of Thursday's Section 3 clash with Shaler shaking his head in disbelief.

The Raiders managed three or less points in three quarters — shooting just 3-of-29 from the field in the first, third and fourth periods — in a 42-19 loss to the Titans at William Paul Gymnasium.

Shaler (9-9, 3-5) is now tied with Seneca (6-8, 3-5) for the fourth and final playoff spot from the section.

“We talked all week about how important this game was,” said Shaler coach Neal Martin. “We started 0-5 (in the section) and the girls may have been second-guessing themselves, but it's a hungry group. They want to win.”

The Raiders are mired in a five-game losing streak, but Lombardo was optimistic entering Thursday's game.

“We had our two best practices of the year the last two days,” he said. “I was most disappointed with our overall effort tonight. You can't teach toughness and urgency and you can't have quarters of two (points), three and two and win a varsity basketball game. You'd have a hard time winning a sixth-grade game doing that.”

The Raiders trailed 18-14 at the break and proceeded to make just one of 12 field goal attempts in the third quarter as Shaler won the period 12-3 to take a 30-17 edge into the final eight minutes.

SV never threatened down the stretch. Emily Crisci scored the team's lone points of the fourth period with under five seconds left in the game.

The Raiders struggled from the floor all night. Even when the team scored 12 points in the second quarter, it shot just 31 percent (5-of-16) from the field. Throw in 22 turnovers and a 2-of-9 effort from the free throw line and it was a night Lombardo would like to forget.

“If girls are making shots, we're fine,” he said, “but if a couple of girls miss some shots, then it becomes a pity party.

“It's all or nothing with us,” he added. “Tonight, the girls found out what nothing feels like.”

With section games against Pine-Richland, North Hills, Oakland Catholic and Butler remaining on the schedule, the Raiders still control their own destiny.

“I'm hoping the girls have a sense of urgency,” Lombardo said. “If we put the effort in, we can still be a playoff team.

Shaler's Courtney Bauer led all scorers with 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first period.

SHALER 42

Courtney Bauer 4 1-1 11, Paige Quinn 2 0-0 5, Liz Kline 3 2-2 8, Emily Ondo 0 1-2 1, Carly Harris 2 2-3 7, Andi Lydon 2 3-4 7, Abbey Conrad 1 0-0 2, Annie Bozzo 0 1-2 1, Marissa Bens 0 0-0 0, Maggie Soeder 0 0-0 0, Casey Bardsley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 10-14 42.

SENECA VALLEY 19

Abbie Trzeciak 1 1-2 3, Hanna Parey 1 0-0 2, Meghan Hess 2 0-0 5, Emily Crisci 1 0-3 2, Paige Montrose 2 0-0 4, Melissa Carter 1 1-4 3, Kaitlyn Eagle 0 0-0 0, Jane Vandrak 0 0-0 0, Shaley Bream 0 0-0 0, Christina Dunning 0 0-0 0, Alexa Sisko 0 0-0 0, Sara Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 2-9 19.

Shaler 8 10 12 12—42

Seneca Valley2 12 3 2—19

3-point goals: Shaler 4 (Bauer 2, Quinn, Harris); Seneca Valley 1 (Hess)

Saturday: Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland