Fox Chapel boys basketball coach Zach Skrinjar appreciates what he has seen from the seniors on the team. They realize the Foxes have little margin for error over the final few weeks of the season if they want to escape from the WPIAL’s Section 1-6A to make the postseason.

“They’ve been in the mindset where they can see the sands in the hourglass running short,” Skrinar said. “They have stepped up their games a little bit. They understand what’s at hand. We as a team and those guys as individuals have to play with a greater sense of urgency.”

Fox Chapel shook off some rust to pick up a road win over North Allegheny on Jan. 28 on the road. The Foxes, who, like every other team in Western Pennsylvania, are out of their usual routine because of the heavy snowfall, grinded out a 44-33 win.

Fox Chapel, which has won consecutive section games after beating Woodland Hills, 52-39, on Jan. 23 on the road, is tied with Seneca Valley for fourth place.

The Raiders and Foxes split their settings this year.

“I think there was some rust,” Skrinjar said. “We were able to practice (Tuesday), but with there being no school and them being out of their routine, it mirrored one of our first practices from the beginning of the season. We had to find a way.”

John Rehak scored a game-high nine points for Fox Chapel (10-8, 5-6) against the Tigers. Joe McGivney added eight rebounds and seven points for the Foxes.

Grant Fenton and Grant Rihn added seven points apiece.

Fox Chapel’s defense did a lot of the heavy lifting against the Tigers. The Foxes limited North Allegheny to five points apiece in the first and fourth quarters.

Skrinjar said Fox Chapel feels it can always lean on its defense.

“That’s in us,” Skrinjar said. “That’s our culture. It’s something we embrace.”

Fox Chapel has three games left on the section schedule — against North Hills, New Castle and Butler — that will sort out if the team can get to the postseason. Skrinjar said the Foxes are focused on themselves.

“We have to worry about Fox Chapel,” Skrinjar said. “We have to be strong with our preparation and focus.”