JACKSON TWP — Both teams are battle tested, but how will they fare against each other?

That question will be answered at 3 p.m. Saturday when the Seneca Valley boys basketball team takes on State College in a PIAA Quad A first-round playoff game at Altoona High.

The Little Lions (14-7), who defeated Hollidaysburg in the District 6 title game last week, played four district champions this season: Allderdice (District 8), Williamsport (4), Central Dauphin East (3) and Johnstown (6-AAA).

State College won just one of those four games, beating Johnstown in mid-February.

"There's only two other Quad A teams in our district: Hollidaysburg and Altoona," said State College coach Drew Frank, who is in his 13th season with the team. "Because of our location, we don't play in a league. But it gives us freedom as far as scheduling some pretty good opponents."

Seneca Valley (17-8) has had a rough road as well.

The Raiders' eight losses include defeats to WPIAL Quad A champion Peters Township, AA winner North Catholic, City League Class AAA champ Perry and District 3-AAA champion York Suburban.

But since starting the season 1-3, SV has not lost consecutive games.

"We tried to keep an eye on District 7 (WPIAL), in hopes of us making the state playoffs," said Frank. "I know that Seneca Valley has put together a tremendous season and is playing very well in the playoffs."

Both State College and Seneca Valley played North Allegheny this year, with the Raiders splitting their two section games with the Tigers and the Little Lions dropping an 83-80 decision to NA.

"The only team that we lost to and they beat this year was Oliver, but that game came a month into the season and it's probably a pretty good indication of what kind of team they are," said SV coach Vic Giannotta.

The Lions are led by 5-foot-10 senior guard Jamar Smack, who is averaging 12 points per game.

But Frank has been able to count on points from several players.

"It's a pretty even distribution," he said. "We've been playing as a unit and the guys are doing a nice job of taking what teams give us."

While the Lions are making their first trip to the PIAAs since the 2005-06 season, when they advanced to the state quarterfinals, SV had never been to the state tournament before this year.

The Raiders knocked off Erie McDowell, 46-44, on Tuesday in a preliminary round meeting. Nate Herrmann and point guard Christian Durbin led the victory with 13 points each.

"Nate was the X-factor," said Giannotta. "He hit a big 3-pointer late in the game. And Christian, he's only a sophomore, but he is fearless."

Sophomore forward Evan Mitro missed Tuesday's game with an illness and his status for Saturday remains uncertain.

Senior guard-forward C.J. Brown, SV's leading scorer at 13.4 points per game, played against McDowell while battling the flu. He is expected on the hardwood Saturday.