PINE TWP — Seneca Valley girls basketball coach Rob Lombardo had a plan.

He changed up defenses every chance he got. He used his most potent post player at point guard and put his best defender on Pine-Richland's best offensive player.

In the end, all three strategies worked to perfection as the Raiders pulled off a Section 3-AAAA upset of the Rams, 44-40, Thursday night.

“They executed it to perfection,” Lombardo said.

Alex Karika scored 18 points, including 11 in the pivotal third quarter as Seneca Valley (11-7, 4-6) extended its slim halftime lead to 10 points.

Karika, a 5-foot-10 forward who is heading to the Naval Academy to play volleyball, brought the ball up court at times during the game.

“We wanted to force (Pine-Richland's) big girls to come out on her,” Lombardo said.

Seneca Valley also used a box-and-one, triangle-and-two, 3-2 zone, 2-3 zone and straight man-to-man defenses at various times in the contest.

The one constant was Katie Brown guarding Pine-Richland's leading scorer, Emily Johanson.

Brown hounded Johanson all night, limiting her to a mere four points.

Johanson averages nearly 18 points per contest.

“I couldn't have asked anything more of her,” Lombardo said. “By the end of the game, Katie was spent.”

It all added up to a huge win that keeps Seneca Valley alive for a playoff spot.

The Raiders still have some work to do.

Because they lost twice this season to Shaler, Seneca Valley needs a Shaler loss in its last section game against Pine-Richland and wins over North Allegheny and Butler next week.

Pine-Richland (12-6, 7-3) had defeated the Raiders 55-49 three weeks ago at Seneca Valley.

“We knew tonight was a playoff game,” Lombardo said. “We have to win three section games in a row. Win and you advance. Lose and you go home. These girls do not want this season to end.”

SENECA VALLEY 44Katie Brown 1 1-2 3, Karlei Fronzaglio 2 1-2 7, Amanda Geiger 4 2-3 11, Alex Karika 5 8-10 18, Julia VanDrak 1 2-2 5, Meghan Hess 0 0-0 0, Brooke Clifford 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 13 14-19 44.

PINE-RICHLAND 40Marissa Hombosky 1 0-0 2, Hannah Todorowski 4 2-2 13, Emily Johanson 2 0-0 4, Brittany Byerly 4 0-0 10, Rachel Verbanac 2 0-0 4, Maria Battaglia 0 2-4 2, Kara Peters 2 1-2 5.

Totals: 15 5-8 40.

Seneca Valley 7 15 14 8—44Pine-Richland 9 11 6 14—403-point goals: Seneca Valley 4 (Fronzaglio 2, Geiger, VanDrak); Pine-Richland 5 (Todorowski 3, Byerly 2).

Saturday: Slippery Rock at Seneca Valley