Good fortune wasn’t on the Neshannock High boys basketball team’s side in the fourth period on Saturday.

Aliquippa missed just three foul shots in the final frame in 18 attempts in rallying for a 74-69 nonsection road win.

The Quips were 25 of 33 for the game from the stripe. They trailed 51-49 after three quarters.

“It was kind of a back-and-forth game for the most part,” Lancers coach John Corey said. “We were forced to foul down the stretch and Aliquippa did a good job stepping to the line and making free throws.”

Corey served as head coach for the game after missing some time from a recent health scare.

“It’s nice to be back coaching. It would have been nicer to get a win, though,” Corey said. “(Assistant coach) Kenny (Locke) did such a good job in my absence. These last couple of weeks have been refreshing, to take a step back, but it’s good to be back.”

Neshannock’s John Sansone, who ranks second on the team in scoring at 18.5 points a game, sat out with a nagging ankle injury.

“We’ve been limiting him in practice,” Corey said. “We had a long week off between the Riverside game and the Shenango games, so we were limiting him in practice.

“With it nagging and sometimes being swollen, and the game being nonsection, it was just a precautionary thing.”

Corey expects Sansone to be ready to go this week for the Lancers’ critical final two section games. Neshannock (5-5 section, 10-9 overall) holds the fourth and final playoff berth in the section, while Mohawk (4-6, 9-10) is in fifth place, just a game back. The teams meet at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow on the Lancers’ home floor.

A Neshannock win clinches the No. 4 seed in the section and eliminates the Warriors. However, Mohawk won the first meeting, 54-46. A Warriors win ties the teams for fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic finish on Friday.

“We’re just so focused on getting that ‘W’ on Tuesday,” Corey said. “Right now, that’s what’s going to determine some playoff action.

“We’re expecting a battle. Mohawk played well against us the first game. We have our hands full on Tuesday. But it’s nice to be at home for that game.”

Neshannock visits Laurel (0-10, 2-17) and Mohawk hosts Shenango (8-3, 13-7). Both games are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. If Mohawk beats Neshannock tomorrow and both teams finish tied for fourth place, the Warriors advance to the playoffs by virtue of a season sweep and the Lancers are eliminated.

Mohawk first-year coach Rob Fadden noted the importance of tomorrow’s matchup against Neshannock.

“The last few games we’ve been in, we’ve treated them like they’re a playoff atmosphere,” Fadden said. “None of those games will be more important than Tuesday, though.

“We have to get that one Tuesday to get in. It’s nice to be in that position. The kids are enjoying it. The more you’re playing in these kind of games, the more it means something to the kids. The more competitive your practices are. I hope we’re ready to go.”

Summit Academy (10-1, 14-4) clinched the section title and Shenango secured the No. 2 seed in the loop. Riverside (6-4, 11-9) clinched a postseason berth as well. Ellwood City and Laurel are eliminated from the race.

Ernie Burkes, Neshannock’s leading scorer at 20.2 points a game coming into the contest, netted a game-best 30 markers. Burkes recorded 12 of his points in the fourth period.

Joe Iorio followed Burkes’ effort with 17 points and eight rebounds. Nine of Iorio’s markers came in the first frame.

“Joe started off really hot and he rebounded really well,” Corey said. “Ernie is very good at getting him the ball. Whether it’s a lob pass or a bounce pass.

“Ernie is extremely athletic. He hit all 4 of his 3s in the second half; he stuck with it in the second half.”

Davion Hall recorded 24 points to lead the Quips (10-10). Hall helped seal the victory by making all eight of his fourth-quarter free-throw attempts.