JACKSON TWP — If you're going to break a program record, you might as well do it in style.

Seneca Valley held a modest 33-32 lead over Shaler with 2:45 left in the third quarter of Tuesday's section contest.

The Raiders outscored the Titans 23-8 the rest of the way for a decisive 56-40 win that gives the team 15 victories, breaking the boys basketball program's record for victories in a single year.

SV (15-7, 7-5) will participate in the WPIAL playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in program history.

"It's very satisfying," said Raiders coach Vic Giannotta. "I'm just really proud of these kids."

The Raiders closed the third quarter with a 6-0 run, capped by Sean Gress' layup following a steal by teammate Nate Herrmann that gave the Raiders a 41-34 edge.

SV's spurt seemed to take the wind out of the Titans' sails as the team was out of sync throughout the final period.

"They looked like the more tired team tonight," Giannotta said of the Titans. "They didn't press us, which surprised me. They wanted to defend us against our half-court offense, but we played well in the half-court tonight."

The Raiders' C.J. Brown began the final period with two baskets within the first minute and Nate Herrmann followed with a 3-pointer that made the score 48-34.

Shaler's first field goal of the fourth quarter came from Ben Altmeyer with 4:32 left to play, but the Raiders still held a 48-36 advantage.

The Titans (11-10, 4-7), who saw their playoff hopes take a hit with the loss, began the game on fire from 3-point range.

Six of Shaler's first eight field goals were from beyond the arc, as the team held a 15-11 edge after one quarter.

"The first time we played them (a 50-41 SV win), we played a box-and-one against them," said Giannotta. "But (Howie) Ruppert is a good coach and he spread us out tonight."

But midway through the second quarter, the Titans' offense went cold, scoring just three points in the final four minutes.

The Raiders went on an 8-0 run in a span of 1:05 to tie the game at 24 at intermission.

The run included 3-pointers from Brown and Herrmann and a layup from Christian Durbin.

"I think that run in the second quarter was the key to the game," said Giannotta, who saw three of his players score at least nine points.

Fitzpatrick and Herrmann each scored 12 points, with the former adding 10 rebounds.

Brown added nine points to the Raiders' cause.

Dan Wirkowski and Jesse Della Valle each scored 12 for Shaler, while Altmeyer added 10.

Shaler coach Howie Ruppert was unavailable for comment.

SHALER 40Ben Altmeyer 4 0-0 10, Jesse Della Valle 3 5-7 12, Dan Wirkowski 4 2-4 12, Dan Taylor 1 0-0 3, Jeff Szczypinski 1 1-3 3, Matt Pendleton 0 0-0 0, Zach Kreke 0 0-0 0, J.T. Schwartz 0 0-0 0, Feehan 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 13 8-14 40.

SENECA VALLEY 56John Fitzpatrick 4 3-4 12, Sean Gress 2 3-4 7, Ryan Turner 1 0-0 2, C.J. Brown 4 0-0 9, Nate Herrmann 5 0-0 13, Dan Rohm 1 0-0 3, Matt Vogt 1 1-3 3, Christian Durbin 2 0-0 5, Tony Treser 1 0-0 2.

Totals: 21 7-11 56.

Shaler 15 9 10 6—40Seneca Valley 11 13 17 15—563-point goals: Shaler 6 (Altmeyer 2, Wirkowski 2, Della Valle, Taylor); Seneca Valley 7 (Herrmann 3, Fitzpatrick, Brown, Rohm, Durbin).

JV: Shaler 40-34

Saturday: Perry at Seneca Valley