ADAMS TWP — Luke Morrissey kept working to find a spot on the Mars varsity team following several years of junior varsity.

Earning a role as a sixth man with an emphasis in energy and tough defense is a badge the Planet senior guard wears proudly.

“Overall, I looked at it if I'm going to play, I need to do what coach wants me to do,” Morrissey said. “I had to play defense and bring energy on the floor.”

Getting the start on senior night Tuesday night at home, Morrissey showed his value in a 95-67 Section 2-5A victory over Montour. Morrissey scored five points, but also helped contain a smaller Spartans lineup intent on attacking the rim.

“Every single game we have the same mindset,” Morrissey said. “We are a fast-paced team. We want to run, push the ball and get up the floor. When other teams want to do that, it puts the pace where we want it. We can push back the way they want to push us.”

Montour (6-11, 2-8) was hoping to do some of the pushing. The Spartans attempted a different strategy earlier in the season and wanted to switch things up.

Montour coach George Yokitis was aggressive, trapping Mars' players all over the floor. It helped the Spartans trim an early 8-2 deficit to 12-11 following a Tyler Banks jumper with four minutes left in the first quarter.

“Last time we tried playing slow with them, that didn't work,” Yokitis said. “So we tried to speed it up and that didn't work, either. They shot well tonight. Mars played well tonight and they were motivated.”

The Planets — who have scored 90 or more points four times this season —never trailed. After Banks closed the gap, Michael Carmody followed with a layup. Robby Carmody, who recently reached 2,000 points and raised his career total by scoring 41 more, followed with a 3-pointer.

Mars coach Rob Carmody attributed the slow start to the build-up of games.

The Planets (15-3, 9-0) even played last Sunday at the Pittsburgh Basketball Classic because Carmody had a hard time saying no to an event he respects so much.

“Sunday was our seventh game in 13 days, we haven't had a chance to get to the gym and get better,” Carmody said. “You are trying to manage how hard your guys practice because it's hard to that.

“Throw into that it's mid-term week and the kids are up studying.”

Mars kept the hammer down in the second quarter, stretching the lead to 55-30 at the break. Andrew Recchia (16 points) and Mike Carmody (12) also reached double figures for the Planets.

Rob Carmody was especially pleased with how his team opened the third quarter. Mars kicked in the mercy rule with 32.3 seconds left in the third quarter when a Robby Carmody dunk put the Planets ahead 85-44.

“I don't know that we missed a shot, the ball didn't hit the ground,” Carmody said about the opening stretch of the quarter.

MONTOUR 67

Tyler Banks 3 0-0 6, Jaden Nelson 7 0-0 14, Jared Crawford 3 3-4 10, Kavon Morgan 5 0-0 12, Ethan Emblenton 4 1-2 10, James Eubanks 1 0-0 2, Anthony Tambellini 0 1-2 1, Don Magglioco 3 0-0 6, Tyler Schoenly 0 0-0 0, Chris Agnew 2 0-0 5. Totals 28 5-8 67.

MARS 95

Cade Hetzler 4 0-0 8, Ray Kahn 2 0-0 4, Connor Amsler 2 0-0 5, Luke Morrissey 2 0-0 5, Robby Carmody 15 7-8 41,. Andrew Recchia 4 6-6 16, Mike Carmody 5 1-1 12, Brandon Caruso 2 0-0 4, Joe Craska 0 0-0 0, Joe Schneider 0 0-0 0. Totals: 36 14-15 95.

Montour 17 13 14 23 — 67

Mars26 29 23 17 — 95

3-point goals: Emblenton; R.Carmody 4, M.Carmody, Amsler, Morrissey, Recchia

Friday: Mars at Moon