It's that time of year Tony Devlin always talks about - after the cutoff and before the playoffs.

"We call it the second season," the Paul VI coach said. "It's the time where kids lose interest, teams lose interest. They're tired of hearing the same things from us as coaches."

Devlin said it's a time when a team can't lose its edge.

"But we haven't," he noted.

Paul VI, No. 9 in the statewide NJ.com Top 20, showed no signs of being disinterested Monday afternoon. The Eagles broke open a close game in the third quarter and pulled away for an 86-69 victory over Pleasantville in the Presidents Day Showcase at Paul VI.

The win was the fifth in a row and 14th in the last 15 games.

"It was physical and we haven't come up against a team like that," said PVI senior point guard Tyshon Judge. "We just had to adjust and work our way through it."

Judge finished with a game-high 28 points, raising his career total to 968. He also had four rebounds, an assist and three steals.

Jaylen Boyd-Savage was named game MVP. The sophomore guard collected 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.

"I just wanted to help my guys," he said.

Hartnel Haye scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, leaving the senior swingman 40 points from the 1,000-point milestone.

Paul VI (21-3) closed out the first half on an 11-2 run. Pleasantville (17-7) cut its deficit to 46-41 with 5:30 left in the third, but the Eagles scored the next 11 points and would eventually take a 60-49 lead into the fourth.

Pleasantville could no closer than 11 down the stretch.

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"(In the third) We settled in as a team and got some transition buckets off steals," Devlin said. "Then we got things going.

"It was good test for us; that's a good Pleasantville team. It was a physical game and a really good game."

Sahmir Jones had 17 points for the Greyhounds, who will face No. 6 Wildwood Catholic in the semifinals of the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament on Wednesday at Absegami. Jacob Valeus added 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Alejandro Rosado chipped in with 11 points and seven boards.

Far from satisfied, Paul VI has regular-season games against Timber Creek and Cherry Hill East before the start of the South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs. The Eagles are the second seed and will host the winner of Bishop Eustace-Notre Dame in the quarterfinals on Feb. 28.

"We still have the hunger in us," Boyd-Savage said. "We're rising, but we're not at our peak yet.

"We just have to keep practicing and putting on performances like today."

Said Judge: "I'm happy but we have things to improve on. ... We'll get it done."