PORT NECHES — Leading 25-12 early in the second quarter, Port Neches-Groves was making it tough for Vidor to stay in the hunt for a 5A boys basketball playoff berth.

Then in a matter of minutes, Vidor made it look easy.

“The first quarter, we were making a few shots,” PNG coach Pat Abel said. “I think we caught Vidor off-guard a little bit. I don’t know that they were expecting the defense we came out in. It was to our benefit.

“With that combination, we were able to build up a lead, and then they went on and scored 59 points in the next three quarters.”

The Pirates (16-13, 5-5 in 22-5A) sank 10 three-point baskets and turned a 13-point deficit into a 71-56 victory Tuesday. They are now tied with Nederland for the fourth and final playoff spot out of District 22-5A. Nederland lost to Ozen 48-39 on Tuesday.

“When we went to our bench, some of the guys just brought a lot of energy,” Vidor coach Nate Smith said. “”We went to our 1-3-1 defense. We had some success there turning them over and speeding the game up. The biggest thing was we started making some shots.”

Vidor made four threes in the second quarter and, within a span of 7 minutes after the early deficit, led 34-27. PNG got a trey from Noah Marchak, one of five for the team, with 7 seconds left before halftime.

PNG (12-18, 2-8) led twice within the first 6 minutes of the third period, but never by more than three points. The Indians last led 41-38 after a Trent Lee jumpshot with 2:17 to go.

The rest of the game was all Vidor’s.

The Pirates led 50-43 at the end of the third quarter and held the Indians without a field goal for a 6-minute span while building a lead as much as 67-46.

“Whether we got fatigued or they played well, I think it was a little bit of both,” Abel said. “They gave us fits defensively. They made shots when they had to.”

PNG guard Drake Rojas scored a game-high 17 points. Hunter Curtis and Lee each finished with 12.

Ashur Fondren led Vidor with 15 points. William Fawcett had 14 points, L.J. DeRoche scored 13 and Gavin Jarrell totaled nine, all on three-point baskets.

Much can happen in the final four games of district play for each team. If the Pirates win out, the worst they can do is force a one-game tiebreaker to earn the fourth seed.

“This is a senior-laden ballclub,” Smith said. “They’ve earned that chance, and that’s all we can really ask for is to go into the last game with a chance to make the playoffs. That’s what we want.”

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

**UPDATED to reflect Vidor’s and Nederland’s standings in District 22-5A**