In a battle of teams going in the wrong direction in the Section 1-6A standings, Seneca Valley used runs of 9-0 and 13-0 to break a five-game losing streak Friday night at North Hills.

The Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive, with a 52-35 victory.

The Indians, who lost for the seventh time in eight games, could manage only two field goals in the first half as the Raiders took control of the game with an 18-point second quarter.

We started making some shots in the second quarter,” Seneca Valley coach Victor Giannotta said. “The kids knew it was a big game for us and they really stepped up.”

Turnovers and missed shots were the name of the game in the first quarter, as Seneca Valley connected on the game's first field goal nearly four minutes into the game. The Raiders held a 6-5 lead after one quarter before breaking the game open by scoring the first nine points of the second quarter to open a 17-5 lead.

The Indians would cut the lead to single digits just once the rest of the game.

“We just couldn't make a shot in the first half,” Indians coach Buzz Gabos said. “You don't win too many games when you score only 11 points in the first half.

The Raiders took a 24-11 lead into the locker room at halftime before putting the game away with a 13-0 run between the third and fourth quarters.

Giannotta was very pleased with the defensive effort of his team as they limited North Hills to just 19 points in the first three quarters.

“We put up a great defensive performance tonight,” Giannotta said. “We were cutting off the driving lanes very well.”

Seneca Valley placed three players in double figures, led by Chris Hart and David Ritchie with 13 points apiece. Jacob Bunofsky chipped in with 10 points.

Jordan Albright led North Hills with eight points.

SENECA VALLEY 52

Jake Bunovsky 3 2-2 10, Chris Hart 4 3-6 13, Gabe Lawson 1 0-0 2, Marcus Might 2 1-2 5, David Ritchie 4 2-3 13, Dalton Peffer 1 2-4 4, Josh Rupert 1 0-0 2, Zac Zajacs 1 0-0 3, Mason Bush 0 0-0 0, Dom McGowan 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 10-17 52.

NORTH HILLS 35

Alex Brown 2 0-0 6, Jordan Albright 3 2-2 8, Joe Ryan 1 0-0 2, Kam Taylor 0 3-4 3, Garret Barto 2 0-2 6, Daniel Ritchey 1 0-0 2, Alex Glatz 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Mats 2 0-0 6, Tyler Brennan 0 0-0 0, Logan Marshalek 0 2-2 2, Brandon Manning 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 7-10 35.

Seneca Valley 6 18 11 17 — 52

North Hills5 6 8 16 — 35

3-point goals: Ritchie 3, Bunofsky 2, Hart 2, Zajacs; Brown 2, Barto 2, Mays 2

Sunday: Senecas Valley vs. Seton La Salle at Montour