JACKSON TWP - The numbers were on Seneca Valley's side.

The Raiders boys basketball team held Fox Chapel to just 44 points on 11 field goals, 21-percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers.

That's usually enough to win a high school basketball game.

Not for struggling Seneca Valley, which had the most important number fall against it in front of the home crowd Friday night: the score.

Fox Chapel 44, Seneca Valley 39.

"If you would have told me we'd hold Fox Chapel to 44 points - what's that game called? Texas Hold'em?" asked Seneca Valley coach Victor Giannotta. "We would be all in. We would have pushed all our chips into the center of the table."

Unfortunately for the Raiders, they have had little in the way of chips to wager this season.

Seneca Valley (0-7) has found it hard to score points this season, averaging just 42 points per contest.

Most of the scoring woes can be attributed to youth, Giannotta said. The Raiders start four sophomores and have yet to find a go-to guy in their offense.

"Absolutely. It's tough when you start four sophomores," Giannotta said. "They did a good job. This is invaluable experience for them."

Perhaps a go-to guy did emerge against Fox Chapel (3-4, 1-1).

Kevin Mayberry came off the bench to score 18 points. He was the only player in the game to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor, hitting nine of his 15 attempts.

"He played well, very well," Giannotta said. "He was aggressive, particularly on the glass."

The Raiders did hold the rebounding edge, but mistakes at key times doomed them.

They committed 18 turnovers of their own, including three on their first three possessions of the second half that helped Fox Chapel grab the lead for good.

Seneca Valley led only twice in the game and by no more than three points.

"We made a couple of key turnovers in key situations," Giannotta said. "I think our shot selection was good."

Fox Chapel spent the last 16 minutes holding on to an advantage made precarious by its own ice-cold shooting.

The Foxes hit only 11 of their 52 field goal attempts and were just 1-for-12 from 3-point range.

Seneca Valley wasn't much better, particularly from beyond the arc, where it missed all 10 attempts.

But Fox Chapel coach Harry Jenkins shrugged off the shooting woes. A win will help soothe any sore spot.

"We'll take it," he said. "How many times as a coach can you say you made (11) field goals and won the ballgame?"

Jenkins was pleased with his defense, which held Seneca Valley to just 32 percent shooting.

"That means you must be doing something right at the other end of the floor," Jenkins said. "We haven't shot well all season. We are a lot like Seneca Valley. We are young and sometimes their confidence wavers."

Fox Chapel was able to pull away late, opening up a 39-33 lead with 3:17 left in the fourth quarter.

John Hastings paced the Foxes with 15 points, including a 9-for-9 performance from the free throw line, which was key to Fox Chapel's victory.

Seneca Valley is trying not to get too discouraged early in Giannotta's coaching regime.

It's hard when the Raiders have not won a game this calendar year; their last win came Dec. 30, 2003 against Woodland Hills.

"We played our (butts) off, but we didn't win," Giannotta said. "What can you do?"

FOX CHAPEL 44

Kevin Martincek 1-7 0-2 2, John Hastings 3-9 9-9 15, Mike Murray 0-2 0-0 0, Doug Robertson 0-1 0-0 0, Tipf Harner 0-5 0-0 0, Rob Tenenni 3-9 5-6 11, Seth Eisner 2-8 3-6 8, Ahmed Abu 2-11 4-7 8. Totals: 11-52 21-30 44

SENECA VALLEY 39

Matt Steinbrink 1-6 0-1 2, Marshall Lee 0-1 0-0 0, Jason Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Dave Monteleone 4-15 3-4 11, Dan Stanley 0-1 0-0 0, Don Barclay 2-7 0-0 4, Kevin Mayberry 9-15 0-1 18, Gabe Grinder 0-4 0-4 0, Pat Heery 2-4 0-0 4, Kevin Rohm 0-3 0-0 0, Shawn Eagle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-56 3-10 39

3-point goals: Eisner

JV: Fox Chapel 47-44

Tuesday: North Hills @ Seneca Valley