The Mars boys lacrosse team has been searching for its first WPIAL Division II playoff win for the better part of three years.

The Planets got it on Wednesday.

Blake Thompson and Zac Sicher each scored three goals and Pat Morrow stopped 11 shots in goal as Mars rolled to a 16-5 road win over Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round of the playoffs.

“I think it’s a pretty big deal,” said Mars first-year coach Ed Monahan. “We came out and wanted it and gave a whole 48-minute effort. We showed we were the better team.”

Mars (12-5) also showed it was the most patient team.

The Planets’ philosophy on offense was simple: control the pace and settle only for a high-percentage shot.

“On offense, we didn’t force anything,” Monahan said. “We showed a lot of poise and confidence.”

Mars led 6-2 at the half before dominating the final 24 minutes for the biggest win in the program’s three-season history.

The Planets will play Canon-McMillan Monday in the Division II semifinals at 6 p.m. at a site to be determined.

Monahan plans to take the same approach to that game as he and his team did to the one Wednesday.

“We did film study and we did our homework,” Monahan said. “We’re going to go into the Canon-McMillan game the same way. We’re going to do our homework. They are a great team and we’ll see what happens.”

Softball

One big inning doomed the Knoch softball team.

Yough scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to erase a 1-0 Knoch lead as the Knights fell in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, 8-4.

Avery Keller homered and also had two singles for the Knights (8-9), who scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to trim the Yough lead to four, but could get no closer.

Knoch 010 000 3 — 4 7 1

Yough 000 611 x — 8 12 1

W: Macy Mularski 7IP (5K, 0BB). L: Celia Knappenberger 3.1IP (1K, 0BB).

Knoch (8-9): Avery Keller HR 2-1B, Chandler Krelow 1B, Shelby Bruggeman 1B, Hayle Fox 1B, Chalee Durand 1B

Yough (16-3): Cassidy Pearce 2-2B, Alona Sleith 2B

Carmichaels 9, Freeport 2 — The Yellowjackets saw their season end in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

Moniteau 13, Keystone 4 — Kennedy DeMatteis struck out a career-high 16 batters as the Warriors (17-1, 7-0) clinched the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title.

Kristina DeMatteis had a double, three singles, scored three runs and drove in two at the plate to lead Moniteau’s 17-hit attack.

Moniteau 002 640 1 — 13 17 3

Keystone 000 040 0 — 4 4 4

W: Kennedy DeMatteis 7IP (16K, 3BB). L: Black 5IP (2K, 5BB).

Moniteau (17-1, 7-0): Gabby Stewart 1B 2B RBI, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B 2B, Kristina DeMatteis 3-1B 2B 2-RBI 3-R, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B 2B, Sara Hull 2-1B RBI, Cortney Claypoole 2-1B 2-R RBI, Megan Hepler 2-1B 2-RBI, Taylor Hasychak 2B 2-R, Alazia Greaves 3B RBI 2-R

Today: Moniteau at Karns City

Baseball

Jake Jewart struck out seven and tossed a two-hitter as Moniteau routed Keystone 17-0 in four innings.

Josh McBride drove in three runs for the Warriors (13-2).

Moniteau 063 8xx x — 17 14 0

Keystone 000 0xx x — 0 2 7

W: Jake Jewart 4IP (7K, 1BB). L: Cochran 3IP (0K, 2BB).

Moniteau (13-2): Josh McBride 2-1B 3-RBI, Aaron Marterella 2-1B RBI, Zach Jewart 1B 3B RBI, Zack Adamson 3B 3-RBI

Keystone: Reed 2-1B

Today: Moniteau at Karns City