MONROEVILLE — Dana Petruska knew an hour before game-time the Mars girls basketball team may not be in the right mindset for its WPIAL Class 5A playoff opener against Uniontown.

The Planets, who have qualified for the PIAA playoffs two straight years, may have been peeking past the Red Raiders, who were making their first playoff appearance since 2014.

“When we first got here today, you would have thought it was a big party in the locker room,” Petruska said. “I had an inkling it was going to happen. They thought they were going to walk in, crush and it was going to be over.”

While Mars ultimately pulled away in the second half for a 54-33 win Friday night at Gateway High School, 13th-seeded Uniontown (7-13) didn't make it easy.

Mars guard Tai Johnson, who finished with 17 points, knows slow starts moving forward could be fatal. Even in the playoff opener, Johnson was uncomfortable with the Planets' first-half effort.

“Honestly, it shouldn't happen at all,” Johnson said. “I'd rather it happen in the first round, but it shouldn't happen at all. We should always come out ready to compete.”

Mya Murray, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard for Uniontown, was relentless. Even though Murray's shooting wasn't on the mark early, she collected her first two misses and scored the first basket of the game.

Murray, who finished with a team-high 13 points, then scored off another offensive rebound with 5:37 left in the first quarter to give Uniontown a 4-0 edge.

“I think they left everything on the floor,” Red Raiders coach Penny Kezmarsky said. “I think the defensive effort they gave in the first half gassed us in the second half. They kind of ran out of gas. It took a toll on how hard they were playing.”

When Mars was clicking, it was hard for Uniontown to keep up. The Planets went on a 14-2 run after falling behind by four. During that run, Johnson put Mars ahead for good by making a 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the first quarter.

“We really had to lock in and focus,” Johnson said. “We came out flat. We didn't come out focused and ready to play at all. We had to match their energy for a better advantage.”

The Red Raiders would cut the lead to 14-11 by the end of the first and 23-19 at halftime, but could never get the deficit below three again.

After halftime, Mars' defensive pressure opened things up on offense. Lauren Wasylson, who scored a game-high 18 points, had shot 1-of-6 from the first half.

“We had to box out,” Wasylson said. “Coming out in the second half, we talked to the team and we need to get our stuff together. We need to get boards, offensive and defensive, and we'll win.”

Bella Pelaia also scored 11 points for Mars. The fourth-seeded Planets (18-5) will face section rival Hampton in the quarterfinals at a site and time to be determined.

Mars definitely won't be looking to start the party early.

“They learned it was a real game and they actually play,” Petruska said. “Because of our youth and ignorance. Once you get in the playoffs, they are all good teams.

“They all had something special that got them here. It was until halftime, I've never been so negative. You did this wrong, you did this wrong and you did one thing right.”

UNIONTOWN 33

Mya Murray 5 2-2 13, Malaysia Ellis 0 0-0 0, Myrical Wilson 0 0-0 0, Makaylah Harper 0 0-0 0, Kelsea Rose 3 4-5 10, Kierra ERose 1 0-0 2, Kierra McCargo 4 0-0 8. Totals: 13 6-7 33.

MARS 54

Tai Johnson 7 1-3 17, Lauren Wasylson 7 4-4 18, Nichole Summers 1 2-2 4, Bella Pelaia 5 0-0 11, Daria Hockenberry 1 0-0 2, Ellie Coffield 1 -0-0 2, Olivia Lockette 0 0-2 0, Regan Kramm 0 0-0 0, Mara Fuller 0 0-0 0, Alek Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 9-13 54.

Uniontown 11 8 9 5 — 33

Mars14 9 16 15 — 54

3-point goals: Murray; Johnson, Wasylson, Pelaia

Next: Mars vs. Hampton, Class 5A playoffs, date, site and time TBA