ALLENTOWN - Pleasant Valley’s regular-season record didn’t resemble that of a playoff team.

And its first-quarter showing in Tuesday night’s District 11 Class 6A first round boys game at Dieruff didn’t look like one, either.

But after playing the Huskies even in the middle periods, the Bears delivered a fourth-quarter performance similar to that of any contending team.

Despite a final frame where PV pressured Dieruff into numerous turnovers and closed the gap offensively behind the hot hand of Jarod Moore, coach Bobby Hahn’s club came up just short in dropping a 49-45 decision.

“Our defense in the second half really came up big,” said Hahn, whose team finished the season at 2-10. “All the guys that were in there gave everything they had on every possession. Unfortunately, it was just a little too late.

“If we would have had that kind of energy in the beginning of the game ... I think it was a lot of jitters because these guys haven’t played in a playoff game before. Once we adapted to the playoff atmosphere, despite not having a crowd, I think they felt comfortable. They settled in. And then it was just unfortunate it was a little too late.”

The seventh-seeded Huskies (6-8) hit their first seven shots from the field to race to an 18-5 lead. The Bears, meanwhile, made only two of their first nine attempts to dig themselves an early hole.

“We’ve played some games where those first quarters look really, really good,” said Dieruff mentor J.T. Randall. “The question is the longevity and the consistency. Can we do it the whole time? We got three quarters of it (tonight).”

Pleasant Valley, seeded 10th, managed to cut into the deficit on a few occasions in the second and third periods, but every time it did the Huskies answered. Moore hit two driving shots late in the third frame to pull the Bears within 37-30, but a three-pointer from Jaden Castro and an inside bucket by Dalwin Cattouse stretched the margin back to a dozen.

With its season on the line, PV seemed to play at another level to start the fourth. A Joel Contreras trey and two more baskets from Moore whittled the Dieruff advantage to 44-38 midway through the quarter. Even after George Gibbs came through with a three-point play on a dunk and free throw to slow the Bears’ momentum, they were undeterred.

Moore drained a triple on Pleasant Valley’s next possession and then scored twice after its trapping defense forced a couple of Dieruff miscues to close within 47-45 with 1:34 left in regulation.

After both teams traded missed shots, the Bears had a chance for a tie or the win in the closing seconds. A driving attempt by Marcus Arce missed the mark, however, and Dieruff grabbed the rebound. Gibbs then hit two free throws to seal the win.

“If we had the three, we were going to take it, but they did a good job switching defenses and then they played the zone and really defended the three-point line,” said Hahn of his team’s final shot. “Driving was our best option. We had a good look at it.

“I’m extremely happy (we had a chance to play this game). It’s been a difficult year. But because of that, we got to play in a playoff game, which was great for the kids and the program. To be able to play in a playoff game and have a playoff environment showed the younger guys what it takes to win a playoff game. We have a lot of kids coming back ... We’re very optimistic about our future.”

SO LONG SENIORS ... The Bears will lose four seniors. Leaving the program will be Contreras, Arce, Leland Hargrow and Jalil Wynn.

PRAISE FOR PV ... Coach Randall, whose team now faces Northampton on Thursday, had nothing but praise for PV. “I have to give it to Pleasant Valley. Those guys came hard in that fourth quarter,” he said. “They never quit ... they’re a scrappy program and they’re going to keep fighting. And they proved it.”

STAT LEADERS ... Moore finished with 15 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter. “(His energy) was incredible,” said Hahn. “He really impressed a lot of people, especially me. He did a great job.” Contreras also added 10 points. For Dieruff, the 6-7 Gibbs had 18 points and eight rebounds.

PLEASANT VALLEY

Arce 2-0-0-5, J. Moore 7-0-0-15, Knudsen 0-0-0-0, Contreras 4-1-2-10, Hallenbeck 0-0-0-0, Francois 2-0-2-5, Hargrow 3-0-0-8, Telepo 0-0-0-0, P. Moore 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 19-1-4-45.

DIERUFF

Chapman 1-0-0-2, Velazquez 0-0-0-0, Cattouse 3-0-0-6, Gibbs 6-6-9-18, Acevedo 1-0-0-2, Castro 5-1-2-14, Quinones 2-0-0-5, Sabatar 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 19-7-14-49.

Pleasant Valley 7 14 9 15 - 45

Dieruff 18 14 10 7 - 49

Three-pointers: Pleasant Valley - Hargrow 2, Arce 1, J. Moore 1, Contreras 1, Francois 1; Dieruff - Castro 3, Quinones 1.