Valley View must quickly shake off the heartbreak of losing, 46-43, on a buzzer-beater if it wants to reach the PIAA Class 4A boys basketball playoffs.

The Cougars (18-6) have a chance to keep their season alive when they visit Wyoming Area (21-4) on Tuesday night in a third-place game at 7 p.m. The winner earns a berth in the state tournament and will play the District 4 runner-up March 6.

“At the beginning of every season, the goal is always to get to the arena, so there is a level of disappointment there,” Valley View coach Mike Kurpis said. “We have a chance to play and get to the state playoffs. We have to regroup and play well.”

Valley View had an impressive performance in the district quarterfinals. The team welcomed back Cash Roe, who missed the last three games of the regular season with an injury, and stormed past Hanover Area, 65-30.

Last Friday, however, last season’s district champions lost on a last-second 3-pointer from Dallas’ Pat Flanagan that prevented a trip to Mohegan Arena and the final. Noah Symuleski scored 18 points, Michael Muto had 17 and Jagger Roe scored eight for the Cougars. They were the only scorers for Valley View.

“Offensively, we have to be more balanced,” Kurpis said. “When we have that balance, we are a tough team to beat.”

Wyoming Area lost to Scranton Prep for the second straight season in the semifinals. Luke Kopetchny scored 35 of his team’s 47 points in the loss.

“Kopetchny is a tremendous athlete,” Kurpis said. “We have to find different ways to make it tough for him. He is very creative and skilled, so defensively we are going to have to help.”

Valley View has reached the state playoffs in each of the last three seasons. The Cougars defeated Shamokin and lost to North Catholic in 2023; beat Shamokin in 2024 and lost to Eastern York in 2024; and last season beat Big Spring, Saucon Valley and Shamokin before losing to Devon Prep in the semifinals.

Wyoming Area played in the state playoffs last season, losing to Shamokin, 90-60, in the first round.

Subregional semifinals

The winter storm that impacted the East Coast forced the postponement of the District 2-4 Class 6A subregional playoffs.

The games will be played Tuesday night.

Third-seeded Delaware Valley (15-8) travels to No. 2 Williamsport (13-10) at 6 p.m. In the other semifinal, No. 4 Hazleton Area (12-11) is at top-seeded Wilkes-Barre Area (13-9) at 7 p.m. The winners will close out the three days of finals Saturday at 8 p.m.