Andrew Roy (2) for Seneca Valley is fouled on his way to the basket during the Raiders’ 55-53 loss to North Hills. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 12/16/22

JACKSON TWP — Close, but no cigar gets old after a while.

Just five games into the season, the Seneca Valley boys basketball team is already tired of it.

A late 3-pointer from Jake Pollaro lifted North Hills to a 55-53 win over the Raiders at William Paul Gymnasium Friday night.

Just last week, SV fell by a point, 54-53, to North Catholic. Losses to Hampton and Fox Chapel came by a combined 13 points.

“It’s disappointing to have another game like this,” said SV senior forward Aiden Lyczek. “We’re so close to being 5-0 and it’s little things we’re messing up on. We just have to keep moving forward.”

Seneca Valley’s Luke Lawson (5) tries to get the ball up and over North Hills’ Jacob Pollaro (22) in the first half of their game at Seneca Valley on Friday night, Dec. 16, 2022. North Hills won 55-52. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

The Raiders (1-4) led 53-52 for almost two minutes when SV’s Connor Oros missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 26 seconds left. The Indians controlled the rebound before the teams traded turnovers, leaving possession with North Hills with 13.6 seconds remaining.

Pollaro’s trey, which came on a bank shot, was made with four seconds left. Out of timeouts, the Raiders were unable to attempt a last-second shot. Time expired just as the inbound pass, thrown past mid-court, was touched.

“Jake had asked me on the previous possession if he could take the shot if he got it and I said he could,” said North Hills coach Buzz Gabos. “(Eric James) cut to the basket and would’ve had a layup, but we missed that (opportunity). Seneca was playing zone and Jake had the ball and put up a shot and it goes in. It’s a bounce you don’t always get.”

It wasn’t the only desperation shot made by the Indians. With time winding down in the first half and SV leading 29-27, Jayden Thomas put up an off-balance 3-point attempt just before the buzzer and the Indians had a one-point lead entering the second half.

“It’s funny that both halves ended with us making a shot like that,” Gabos said. “That’s when you know it’s your night.”

Royce Parham scored 13 points to lead the Indians (4-1). The 6-foot-8 center spent the entire second quarter on the bench with three personal fouls.

Andrew Roy scored 19 points for SV. Tyler Pepin added 13 and Connor Oros 10.

Seneca Valley coach Kevin Trost was unavailable for comment.

NORTH HILLS 55

Jayden Thomas 4 0-1 10, Jake Pollaro 3 0-0 9, Zach Pollaro 3 0-0 7, Logan Johnson 2 0-0 6, Royce Parham 6 1-2 13, Eric James 3 2-2 8, Peter Lukac 1 0-0 2, Michael Arnett-Hoskey 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 3-5 55.

SENECA VALLEY 53

Andrew Roy 7 2-2 19, Connor Oros 4 0-1 10, Luke Lawson 4 0-0 8, Esheza Okponobi 1 0-0 3, Tyler Pepin 6 0-0 13, Aiden Lyczek 0 0-0 0, Jackson Wetzel 0 0-0 0, Kai West 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 2-3 53.

North Hills 17 13 17 8 — 55

Seneca Valley 12 17 17 7 — 53

3-point goals: North Hills 8 (J.Pollaro 3, Johnson 2, Thomas 2, Z.Pollaro); Seneca Valley 7 (Roy 3, Oros 2, Okponobi, Pepin).

Tuesday: Baldwin at Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley’s Tyler Pepin (15) splits the defense for North Hills on Friday night, Dec. 16, 2022. North Hills won 55-52. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley’s Andrew Roy (2) is fouled on his way to the basket in their game against North Hills on Friday night, Dec. 16, 2022. North Hills won 55-52. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley’s Connor Oros (3) uses his speed to get around a North Hills player to go to the basket on Friday night, Dec. 16, 2022. North Hills won 55-52. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle