The Shenango High girls basketball team led almost the entire game against Neshannock last night.

It was the 12 seconds that the Lady Lancers led, however, that mattered most.

Visiting Neshannock scored the final seven points in the last two minutes, rallying for a 39-38 WPIAL Section 1-AA victory.

Madison McHale’s layup and free throw gave Neshannock (5-0 section, 9-1 overall) with one-point lead with 12 seconds remaining. Emma Rich’s attempt at the buzzer did not connect.

Both defenses stepped up to the task, as neither side shot well from the floor. The Lady Lancers went 11-for-35 (31.4 percent), while the Lady Wildcats shot 14-for-40 (35 percent).

“They played great defense,” Neshannock coach Luann Grybowski said. “We did not play well defensively at all, it wasn’t anything we did. They just took time off of the clock. It wasn’t a great shooting night.”

Added Shenango coach Brian Turk, “We didn’t score a lot, but we didn’t give up points and that’s something we haven’t been able to do with good teams. I’m proud of the girls.”

The Lady Lancers hit 14 of their 15 free throw attempts, knocking down all eight of their fourth-quarter tries.

Neshannock’s Madison McHale led all scorers with 19 points, nine of them coming from the charity stripe, while adding five rebounds. The senior only recorded five made field goals.

“They did a good job, the game plan was good,” Grybowski said of Shenango. “She got in some attempts, but they weren’t great looks.”

Samantha Seaburn paced the Lady Wildcats (2-3, 6-5) with 15 points.

The loss stings for Shenango, but the defensive effort has Turk encouraged moving ahead.

“We’re in the same spot as last year and I know the girls will fight out of this,” Turk said. “There’s nothing more than they could’ve done tonight.

“That’ll make us a better team like Neshannock and Mohawk. Hopefully we can continue that good defense and move forward.”