The Shenango High boys basketball team kept Mercer close enough to hold onto victory last night.

The teams battled all game long, but the Wildcasts outlasted the Mustangs in a 53-49 nonsection win.

An 11-7 first quarter proved to be the difference-maker for Shenango (7-4), as neither side outscored the other by more than a point in the final three quarters.

“We made a run a couple times and they came back,” Shenango coach Bob McQuiston said. “We made a few key plays down the stretch. When you have veteran players, they have to come up down the stretch and we did that.”

Count Ryan Smith as one of the veteran players who rose to the occasion. The senior guard finished with a game-high 22 points and hit four 3-pointers. James Micco added 12 points to the cause.

“We got a couple looks, hit our foul shots,” McQuiston said. “Our veterans stepped up and made plays.”

Jonathan Scheidauer’s led Mercer (5-7) with 13 points.

Shenango now prepares for Section 1-AA foe Riverside, which visits tomorrow. The Vikings are 2-3 in section play and 5-6 overall.

Obviously we have a big one coming up on Friday,” McQuiston said. “But I think it will be a good game and there will be some good basketball.”