Robby Carmody (24) shows his intensity during his 30-point performance against Trinity in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Tuesday night. The planets won the game, 56-39.

WHITEHALL — The Mars boys basketball team is used to being the aggressor, often forcing opponents out of their gameplan on both offense and defense.

In Tuesday night's WPIAL Class 5A semifinal against Trinity, it was the Hillers who enjoyed the early momentum.

It lasted four minutes.

Mars senior guard Robby Carmody helped dig the Planets out of an early 7-0 hole, scoring 21 of the team's 23 points in the first-half of a 56-39 victory at Baldwin High School.

The Planets (20-4) will face Franklin Regional in the district final at 9 p.m. Friday at the Petersen Event Center.

It will be Mars' first-ever appearance in the WPIAL championship.

“It's awesome,” said Robby Carmody, who dropped 30 points on the Hillers. “As a little kid, you don't even think about states because you don't actually go there. But the WPIAL, I went to those playoff games all the time.”

It was Carmody's trey that got the Planets on the board after four frustrating minutes to begin the game.

Trinity never was able to recapture the effectiveness on offense that it found early on. By the end of the first quarter, Mars held a 14-11 lead.

Robby Carmody scored all nine of the Planets' points in the second quarter for a 23-18 halftime edge.

“I stepped up to make some plays to keep us in the game,” Robby said, “but I knew other guys were going to have to hit some shots for us to win.

Michael Carmody hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter and Andrew Recchia had another as Mars' edge was pushed to 38-25.

“Robby carried the guys in the first half and they carried him in the second half,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “We have several guys who are getting over being sick and we never really found that flow tonight. In the playoffs, you will run into teams that will grind you down, but we found a way to win tonight.”

The Planets held the Hillers (20-5) to 26 points below their average of 65 points per game this season.“We moved and shot the ball well to start, but then we got caught up in some stuff that had nothing to do with basketball,” said Trinity coach Tim Tessmer, who was referring to the very physical game that also included some trash talking.“Western Pennsylvania, this is a football and wrestling area and sometimes, that mentality carries over to the basketball court,” Robby Carmody said. “It's still fun, though.”Carmody fouled out of the game with 1:59 left in the game, but Mars was ahead 52-37 at that point. The Planets made 16-of-22 free throws in the fourth quarter alone to ice the victory.Recchia scored 10 points for Mars. Senior point guard Joey Koroly scored 10 for the Hillers.TRINITY 39Joey Koroly 4 1-2 10, Mike Koroly 3 0-0 8, Dausen Marry 2 1-2 6, Jeff Ecker 2 1-2 5, Stephen Schultz 1 0-4 2, Zach Ecker 2 0-0 4, Dylan Kern 1 2-3 4. Totals: 15 5-13 39.MARS 56Andrew Recchia 3 3-4 10, Robby Carmody 7 13-16 30, Cade Hetzler 0 2-4 2, Michael Carmody 3 1-2 9, Brandon Caruso 1 3-4 5, Luke Morrissey 0 0-0 0, Joe Schneider 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 22-30 56.Trinity 11 7 7 14 — 39Mars14 9 15 18 — 563-point goals: M.Koroly 2, J.Koroly, Marry; R.Carmody 3, M.Carmody 2, RecchiaFriday: Mars vs. Franklin Regional, WPIAL Class 5A championship, 9 p.m., Petersen Events Center

Mars assistant coach Kent Bloom, center, enjoys the post-game celebration Tuesday night at Baldwin High School.