ADAMS TWP — Mars was looking for some separation as the second half began.

It earned a heavy dose of it.

Leading Hampton by just three points at halftime, the Planets' girls basketball team used the third quarter to post a 19-4 run before closing out the Class 5A-Section 4 schedule with a dominating 58-41 home victory Thursday night.

“We've gone into too many third quarters this year without being ready,” said Mars coach Dana Petruska. “We emphasized to the girls tonight at halftime that we couldn't have a letdown.”

Instead, the lackluster play belonged to the Talbots, who scored just four points — all on free throws — in the third and did not make a field goal in the second half until Grace Dean's bucket with 3:05 left in the game cut Mars' lead to 52-35.

Hampton (18-2, 11-1) had already clinched the section title before the contest. For the fourth straight game, the Talbots were without injured point guard Jenna Lafko, a four-year starter who leads the team in scoring with nearly 19 points per game this season.

Without its leader, Hampton committed seven of its 18 turnovers in the third quarter. Tai Johnson turned one of the miscues into a layup that pushed the Planet lead to 47-27 late in the third period.

Hampton coach Tony Howard called three timeouts during the third, attempting to break Mars' momentum, but to no avail.

“Mars came after us pretty hard (on defense),” said Howard. “They did a good job against our initial look. The toughest thing for us with Jenna being out is trying to get organized. I didn't replace her with another point guard. I replaced her with a (center).”

Hampton proved a much tougher test for the Planets in the first half.

Trailing 11-10 after the first period, Mars used a 9-0 run to open the second.

Hampton answered with 10 points in the final 2:08 of the first half and trailed just 28-25 at the break.

Mars freshman forward Bella Pelaia scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first two quarters. She added 12 rebounds in the game.

“She's averaging double digits in points and about nine rebounds per game,” said Petruska. “She's taken constructive criticism very well.”

Pelaia wasn't sure what her role on the team would be just two months ago.

“I thought I might be a starter before the season started, but I wasn't sure,” she said. “Then I was told I was starting our first game and figured I was just a freshman and wanted to do my part. But actually, I'm a little surprised. I've done better than I thought I would.”

Pelaia was one of four Planets to reach double figures in points, joining Johnson (15), Nicole McCloud (11) and Lauren Wasylson (10).

Junior guard Laryn Edwards paced Hampton with 18 points.

The Planets (16-5, 10-2) settle for second place in the section. They will close the regular season Monday at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.

HAMPTON 41

Laryn Edwards 5 7-11 18, Alison Collins 4 2-2 12, Natalie Dean 0 2-2 2, Grace Dean 2 0-0 5, Brooke Fuller 2 0-1 4, Bree Murray 0 0-0 0, Aaryn Griggs 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 11-16 41.

MARS 58

Lauren Wasylson 4 0-0 10, Nicole McCloud 4 1-3 11, Nichole Sommers 2 0-0 4, Bella Pelaia 7 2-2 16, Tai Johnson 6 2-3 15, Daria Hockenberry 0 2-2 2. Totals: 23 7-10 58.

Hampton 11 14 4 12 — 41

Mars10 18 19 11 — 58

3-point goals: Hampton 4 (Collins 2, Edwards, G. Dean); Mars 5 (Wasylson 2, McCloud 2, Johnson).

Monday: Mars at CW North Catholic