A loss is tough to swallow, especially a close one.

But Panther Valley coach Rob Kovac called last night’s 47-45 defeat to Pottsville in Schuylkill League play a step forward in building a successful girls’ program at the school.

“We’re getting there,” he said. “Playing close games, win or lose, helps us move forward to where we want to be.”

Panther Valley led 36-31 going into the final eight minutes of the game. Crimson Tide freshman Jes Siminitis scored on a jump shot, and then a layup from Kyler Bowers cut the margin to one point with 5:50 left.

Two free throws from PV’s Maddison Maynard lifted the home team’s lead back to three until Bower nailed a triple from beyond the top of the key to tie the game at 38.

A basket by Liv Peleschak and another from Siminitis gave the Tide a 42-38 lead with 3:37 to play, but the Panthers (5-5) were not about to go away without a fight.

Mikayla Yuricheck hit a short jumper, and after Siminitis scored again, PV’s Sera Robin found the net on a driving layup to keep the deficit to two points.

Down 44-42, Morgan Orsulak’s free throw set the stage for an exciting finish with the Panthers trailing by a single point. Brooklyn Reinhart’s free throw put Pottsville up 45-43, but Maynard’s jump shot in the lane tied the score with :10 remaining.

On Pottsville’s next possession, Siminitis once again played the heroine as she drove the baseline for a left-handed layup, leaving the Panthers 4.1 seconds to try for the tie or the win, but they failed to get off a shot.

Kovac praised his team’s defensive effort that forced the Tide (4-6) to shoot a ton of three-pointers, which Pottsville coach Steve Ennis said afterward was not a major part of their game planning. But the Tide still managed to win, and Kovac explained what he thought was the reason.

“I think we lost a good part of our energy with about seven minutes to go,” he said, “and with a five-point lead heading into the fourth, we need to learn how to close out the game.”

The Panthers started strong, and led 11-3 on Yuricheck’s baseline jumper with three minutes gone by in the first period, but the visitors stormed back with an 8-0 run to tie the game. Orsulak – who tallied 11 points in the first half – and Maynard put PV ahead 15-13 at the end of the period.

The score remained close in the second period despite Pottsville’s six turnovers, as the Tide capitalized on second chance shots off of offensive rebounds. After the intermission, Panther Valley built its five point lead largely on the 10 points of the game-high 20 scored by Maynard.

“Up five, we took an open look three that rattled the rim,” said Kovac. “If that goes in, we may be talking about a different game coming down to the end.”

The coach said that his team needs to get more players involved in tight games as opposing defenses double team Maynard.

“We need to kick the ball out when they close down on Maddison,” he said. “It’s all a learning process. We only have one senior, but we’re heading in the right direction toward making the playoffs.”

GAME CHANGER

... Pottsville’s Siminitis scored all of her eight points in the fourth period, including the game-winner with four seconds left to play.

LOST POSSESSIONS

... A key fourth period statistic was the seven turnovers committed by Panther Valley that helped diminish its five point lead and helped Pottsville outscore the Panthers by seven points.

HIGH HURDLES

... Panther Valley has already won five games this season, eclipsing last year’s win total of three. If the Panthers should reach seven victories, it will be the first time since 2012 that mark has been achieved.

POTTSVILLE

Bowers 4-1-2-12, Blum 5-0-0-11, Peleschak 4-1-2-9, Siminitis 4-0-0-3-8, Golden 3-1-2-7, Hinkle 0-0-0-0, Goodman 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 20- 3-9- 47.

PANTHER VALLEY

Maynard 7-6-8-20, Orsulak 5-2-6-12, Robin 2-1-3-6, Yuricheck 3-0-0-6, Vermillion 0-1-2-1, Krapf 0-0-0-0, McAndrew 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-10-19-45.

Pottsville 13 10 8 16 - 47

Panther Valley 15 7 14 9 - 45

Three-pointers: Pottsville – Bowers 3, Blum 1. PV - Robin 1.