JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley girls basketball team refused to give up this whole season.

So why start now?

Trailing Shaler by seven points and with three of their starters in foul trouble entering the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored the Titans 19-5 en route to a 46-39 win Monday night that clinches a WPIAL Class AAAA playoff berth.

Forwards Jackie Mangola and Catherine Messmer and guard Aly Eagle all began the fourth period with at least three fouls. By the end of the game, all three had fouled out.

"To be honest with you, I'm thinking back and wondering how we pulled this out," said Seneca Valley coach Kelly Mathews. "I feel like I played the whole game."

Yes, even the coaches felt the physical pressure of a game in which the loser's playoff hopes dimmed.

SV had a 1-3 section record at one point, but the Raiders (9-12, 6-6) closed the section slate by winning five of their last eight.

Shaler (10-12, 4-7) made only 2-of-10 shots in Monday's final period while committing eight turnovers.

"That was the difference," said Titans coach Eric Mozzetti. "We missed out on too many opportunities, turnovers and free throws."

Shaler went 1-of-4 from the line in the fourth, but it was turnovers that really hurt the Titans.

With 5:10 left in the game, the Titans held a 37-31 edge before Kelsey Patsilevas pulled SV to within 37-34 with a 3-pointer.

A Shaler turnover led to Eagle's conventional three-point play that tied the game at 37.

The Titans gave the ball away on the next two trips down the floor, and when Messmer made both attempts from the free throw line, the Raiders were up for good at 39-37 with 2:21 to play.

Mangola, who had fouled out with nine points at the 5:17 mark, watched the rest of the game from an unfamiliar position: the bench.

"When I came out, I had all the faith in the world that the girls out there would get it done," said Mangola.

Messmer came to the bench with five fouls with 2:05 remaining and Eagle with 23.4 seconds left, but in between the Raiders received a big basket by Alyssa Miller and two clutch free throws by Shayna Elser that made it 43-37.

Shaler's last hope came when Eagle's fifth foul sent Sarah Knaus to the free throw line, but Knaus missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and it was rebounded by a teammate before SV's Megan Gebrosky stole the ball.

"This was just a total team effort," said Mathews. "The girls wanted this so bad. I think they started the game a bit tight because they wanted it so bad."

To make the playoffs, Shaler now has to beat Pine-Richland on Thursday and hope North Hills, which is winless in the section, manages to knock off North Allegheny.

SV was led by Eagle's 10 points while Shaler's Olivia DiNucci led all scorers with 17 points.

SHALER 39Sarah Knaus 1 0-1 2, Olivia DiNucci 6 5-8 17, Hillary Sauer 4 3-6 11, Ashley Hohman 0 1-2 1, Holly Knaus 1 0-0 2, Jackie Sauer 2 2-2 6, Maria Bozzo 0 0-0 0, Erika Frank 0 0-0 0, Jenna Conrad 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 14 11-19 39.

SENECA VALLEY 46Aly Eagle 3 4-8 10, Megan Gebrosky 0 7-8 7, Alyssa Miller 1 0-0 2, Kelsey Patsilevas 4 0-0 9, Shayna Elser 0 2-4 2, Kara Moyer 0 1-2 1, Jackie Mangola 2 4-4 9, Catherine Messmer 1 4-6 6.

Totals: 11 22-32 46.

Shaler 10 8 16 5—39Seneca Valley 7 8 12 19—463-point goals: Seneca Valley 2 (Patsilevas, Mangola)

JV: Shaler 53-35

Wednesday: Chartiers Valley at Seneca Valley