WEXFORD — It was a scenario Rob Carmody admits he and his team didn't prepare for.

Mars' boys basketball coach watched his team play the final two minutes, 35 seconds of Friday's state playoff game against Hampton with 60 percent of his starting lineup on the bench.

Guards Cade Hetzler and Robby Carmody and forward Ben Perdziola all fouled out in a span of just 51 seconds of the fourth quarter.

Making matters worse, the Talbots, who trailed by 20 points earlier in the period, were gaining fast on the Planets. Mark Shehady's two free throws with 41 seconds left pulled Hampton to within 80-75.

“When you go over the things you need to do to finish a game, having three of our top guys on the bench is not something we practiced for,” said Carmody. “With Cade and Robby out, we had one guy left who could handle the ball, Andrew Recchia, and he goes out and does it.”

Thanks in large part to free-throw shooting, Mars survived in an 85-81 decision at North Allegheny High School.

Mars' Ben Lewis sank two free throws to push the lead to 82-75 with 23 seconds left, but Shehady drained a bucket and after a Planet turnover, made two free throws of his own to make it 82-79 with 17 seconds left.

Lewis and Recchia then iced the game with three combined free throws in the final seconds.

“I don't want there to be a bubble around me,” Lewis said regarding the raucous atmosphere. “I got my friends in the stands and my brothers on the court with me. I feed off of that.”

Mars (16-9) held a 15-point lead at the start of the fourth period. When Recchia hit a trey with 5:55 left in the game, the Planets enjoyed their biggest lead of the night at 74-54.

But the Talbots (16-11) began chipping away, beginning with Ryan Murray's 3-pointer with 5:04 left. As Mars' starters began fouling out, the Talbots took advantage on both ends of the floor.

“We fought 'til the end,” said Hampton coach Joe Lafko. “We kept at it with our pressure and forced some turnovers and got (the deficit) under 10. Our kids started to think they could make something magical happen. In the end, we missed some key free throws and Mars made their's.”

Ionadi led the Talbots in scoring this season. Though he finished with 15 points Friday, he had just six entering the fourth period. Rob Carmody credited the defense applied by Hetzler for holding Ionadi down for much of the night.

Enter Shehady. The senior guard scored a career-high 36 points in what turned out to be his final high school game. He scored 18 of Hampton's 21 points in the third quarter.

“He was outstanding for us tonight,” said Lafko. “He has the ability to score and he showed it tonight.”

But Mars' balance proved too much. Robby Carmody's 29 points had a lot of support from Recchia (17), Hetzler (17) and Lewis (13).

“The pieces fit. For whatever reason, they fit,” said Rob Carmody, who has seen a team with just one starter returning from last year's state runner-up prove its doubters wrong this season. “All of the credit for this win goes to the kids.”

It was the fourth meeting between the section rivals this season. After splitting two games in the regular season, the Talbots won 61-59 in the WPIAL semifinals Feb. 28.

“I've been playing against Hampton's guys since I was in first grade,” said Lewis. “It's always good to beat a rival.”

Mars will face Cathedral Prep (14-12) in Tuesday's second round at a site and time to be determined.

HAMPTON 81

Kyle Reese 3 3-7 9, Ben Huber 1 1-1 4, Antonio Ionadi 4 6-7 15, Mark Shehady 13 6-7 36, Adam Bittner 1 0-0 2, Isaac DeGregorio 1 2-2 5, Nick Schuit 2 1-2 7, Ryan Murray 1 0-2 3. Totals: 26 19-28 81.

MARS 85

Cade Hetzler 6 4-4 17, Andrew Recchia 4 7-8 17, Robby Carmody 10 7-10 29, Ben Lewis 3 5-6 13, Jerry Stoddart 0 1-2 1, Ben Perdziola 3 0-0 6, Michael Carmody 1 0-0 2, Luke Morrissey 0 0-0 0, Brandon Caruso 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 24-30 85.

Hampton 20 12 21 28 — 81

Mars18 22 28 17 — 85

3-point goals: Hampton 10 (Shehady 4, Schuit 2, Murray, DeGregorio, Ionadi, Huber); Mars 7 (Recchia 2, Carmody 2, Lewis 2, Hetzler).

Tuesday: Mars vs. Cathedral Prep, PIAA Class 5A second-round playoff, TBD