JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley was hoping it had moved past its offensive woes. In fact, the most frustrating span still lay ahead.

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin tries to make it to the net while Pine-Richland's Alex Kastner blocks during their game at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

The Raiders had emerged from a defensive struggle to take a 35-29 lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter of a Section 1-6A tilt against Pine-Richland. But in the final 10 minutes, including overtime, SV managed just nine points and two field goals in a 54-44 loss.

“I’ll take the blame for this one,” said Raiders coach Kevin Trost. “I didn’t have our guys ready to close out the game.”

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin attempts to score while Pine-Richland's Alex Kastner blocks during their game at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

The loss dealt a major blow to Seneca Valley’s playoff hopes. Since the Rams (7-11, 3-5) swept the Raiders (6-14, 2-6) this season, including a 58-43 decision last month, P-R has what amounts to a two-game lead over SV for the final WPIAL playoff spot from the section.

To qualify for the postseason, the Raiders must win their final two section games (against North Allegheny and New Castle) and have the Rams lose their final two (against New Castle and Butler).

Seneca Valley's Owen Congdon scores during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“We knew a win tonight would put us in a good spot to make the playoffs and a loss meant we would have an uphill climb,” said Trost.

Despite its lull late in the fourth quarter, SV received new life when Tyler Pepin’s basket just before the buzzer tied the game at 41. The Raiders won the opening tip in overtime, but promptly turned the ball over. Pine-Richland’s Andrew Mendelovich drained a 3-pointer at the other end and the Rams had a lead they would not give up.

Seneca Valley's Owen Congdon tries to score during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mendelovich also made an impact at the start of the second half. After P-R made just seven of 22 field goal attempts in the first two quarters and trailed 18-16 at halftime, Mendelovich scored eight points with a pair of 3-pointers on his team’s first three possessions of the third quarter.

Seneca Valley's Kai West tries to steal the ball from Pine-Richland's Vasili Balouris during their game at at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“That was key for us,” said Rams coach Bob Petcash. “Basketball is a game of runs and that one was big. I’m proud of our effort tonight.”

The spurt had put the Raiders behind on the scoreboard, but they rebounded thanks to points from Pepin, Owen Congdon and Andrew Omasits to lead 31-29 entering the fourth quarter and 35-29 early in the period. The Rams closed the game on a 25-9 run.

Seneca Valley's head coach Kevin Trost reacts to a play by his team during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“I figured it would be a low-scoring game,” said Trost. “Neither team scores a lot of points. We just couldn’t close it out tonight.”

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin battles with Pine-Richland's Zach Kenny during their game at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Pepin made nine of 10 free throws as part of his game-high 23 points.

Vasili Balouris scored 15 to lead the Rams, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Seneca Valley's Andrew Omasits scores during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin goes in for a layup during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Owen Congdon prevents the ball from going out of bounds during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Esheza Okponobi looks to pass during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin drives the ball down the court during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

PINE-RICHLAND 54

Grant Spacciapolli 3 2-2 9, Vasili Balouris 6 3-9 15, Eli Catalano 1 1-2 3, Andrew Mendelovich 4 1-2 12, Carson Baer 1 0-0 2, Zach Kenny 3 1-2 8, Alex Kastner 1 3-5 5. Totals: 19 11-22 54.

SENECA VALLEY 44

Owen Congdon 3 2-4 8, Tyler Pepin 6 9-10 23, Andrew Omasits 1 2-2 5, Kai West 2 2-4 6, Jaxon Householder 1 0-1 2, Esheza Okponobi 0 0-2 0, Ryan Priester 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 15-23 44.

Pine-Richland 9 7 13 12 13 — 54

Seneca Valley 7 11 13 10 3 — 44

3-point goals: Pine-Richland 5 (Mendelovich 3, Spacciapolli, Kenny); Seneca Valley 3 (Pepin 2, Omasits).

Tuesday: North Allegheny at Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin takes a shot during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Owen Congdon scores during their game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin tries to keep the ball from getting into Pine-Richland's hand during their game at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin makes a free throw during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin drives the ball down the court during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Esheza Okponobi tries to get to the net during the first quarter of the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Tyler Pepin drives the ball down the court during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley's Jaxon Householder prevents the ball from going out of bounds during the game against Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, Feb. 2. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle