ADAMS TWP — The start of the Mars girls basketball game against Pine-Richland was beginning to look familiar.

The Planets were down to the Rams. Down big.

Nearly a year ago to the date, Mars fell behind against Pine-Richland, 17-2, in the first quarter and 32-5 at the half.

A year later, the Planets stared at a 16-5 deficit in the second quarter.

But unlike last season, they made two runs at the Rams, but ultimately fell short, 52-40, Tuesday night.

“We really struggled a year ago against them, so to get off to a slow start again against them, not let that creep back into our heads and come back and make it competitive, I think that's a positive,” said Mars coach Tony Howard.

Mars (2-1) trailed 22-13 at the half, but cut that advantage down to 29-25 midway through the third quarter.

Pine-Richland (2-1), though, increased its lead to as many as 10 late in the quarter before the Planets made a run to get as close as 39-35 by the beginning of the fourth.

“Oddly enough, I don't feel frustrated at all,” Howard said. “Obviously, you want to win every game you can ... but I think that was probably our best game of the year, even though it was a loss.”

Sara Getsy and Ali Goetz combined for 16 points in the third quarter to get Mars back into the game.

Getsy finished with 13 and Goetz with 11 to pace the Planets.

“They both dug deep, they both played well and made some big shots for us,” Howard said. “I really think it started on the defensive end. Elise (Sheehy) played great help-defense. Nicole (McCloud) and Jess (Bunner) both played great on-the-ball defense.

“Overall, I feel positive about it,” Howard added. “If we can play that hard and with that type of intensity each night, I think we'll be OK.”

Pine-Richland point guard Amanda Kalin finished with 23 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to help the Rams keep the Planets at bay.

Chelsea Rourke scored 11 of her 13 points in the third quarter to make sure Pine-Richland kept its shrinking lead.

Rams' coach Cliff Foster, a Knoch graduate, said he has high expectations for his young team.

“We're starting our third year, so it's sort of 'our girls' now,” Foster said. “It's funny, Chelsea Rourke is the only girl we've had for more than two years. The first year was what it was, 5-17, with a ton of seniors, then we started fresh last year and had an ACL tear and a big girl go down, so we threw a bunch of freshmen into the fire.

“We're sitting here and they're all sophomores and the future is bright for P-R basketball,” Foster added. “But we don't want to wait.”

PINE-RICHLAND 52

Chelsea Rourke 5-14 2-3 13, Amanda Kalin 7-20 9-10 23, Caitlin Byerly 1-3 2-2 5, Kaitlyn Jenkins 4-9 0-0 9, Megan Gryzbek 1-4 0-1 2, Makenzie Jenkins 0-0 0-1 0, Gianna Detemple 0-4 0-0 0, Rachel Steliotes 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Brenner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-54 13-17 52.

MARS 40

Sara Getsy 6-11 0-0 13, Jess Bunner 1-6 0-1 2, Ali Goetz 4-7 3-5 11, Elise Sheehy 3-6 0-1 6, Lauren Wasylson 0-3 0-0 0, Bri Buzard 0-0 0-0 0, Bonnie Workman 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 17-43 4-9 40.

Pine-Richland 8 14 17 13 — 52

Mars3 10 22 5 — 40

3-point goals: Pine-Richland 3 (Rourke, Byerly, K. Jenkins; Mars 2 (Getsy, Workman)

JV: Pine-Richland 40-33

Thursday: Mars at Ford City