ROSS TWP — The consolation prize for Mars was getting back into and at one point, tying the game after falling behind by double digits.

But the Planets wanted more. They wanted to knock off the team that had ended their run in both the district and state playoffs last year.

But it was not to be. Oakland Catholic advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball title game with a 48-44 victory over Mars at North Hills Middle School Wednesday night.

The Planets, who had trailed 18-3 late in the first quarter, kept chipping away and when Alek Johnson drained a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in the third quarter, the score was knotted at 38.

“Mars is a great team and I knew they would come back,” said Eagles' coach Shannon Kearney. “We just needed to keep executing our gameplan.”

Oakland Catholic was a bit more effective at doing that than Mars was over the final eight minutes.

The Planets (19-6) made just two of their 11 attempts from the field in the fourth quarter, though both makes were treys. One came from Lauren Wasylson early in the period and the second, from Bella Pelaia, cut the Eagles' edge to 46-44 with 3:21 left.

Junior guard Tai Johnson left the game with leg cramps with 28 seconds left and Mars trailing by four points. Alek Johnson took and missed a trey with 11 seconds remaining and Oakland's Cierra Christian pulled down her game-high 15th rebound to seal the win.

“I think it could've been different if we had another quarter to play and if we had Tai out there,” said Mars coach Dana Petruska. “I'm so proud of the way we fought back.”

It was a steep hill to climb. Petruska called a timeout with 2:33 left in the opening quarter and her team trailing by 15 points.

“After what happened last year, they (Eagles) are absolutely in our girls' heads,” said Petruska. “But I told them that they aren't as good as they were last year and that we are better than what we were showing. We are better than that and our girls know it.”

The Planets trailed 19-5 after one quarter and were down 31-20 at halftime.

Then came the third period. The Eagles were having trouble holding onto the ball and Mars received field goals from five different players, including treys from Alek Johnson, Wasylson and Ellie Coffield.

The result was an 18-7 advantage in the quarter, but it was a pace the Planets were unable to sustain.

Pelaia scored 13 points to lead Mars.

Jayde Boyd had 16 points for Oakland Catholic (17-8) and Christian added 15 to go with her 15 boards.

Oakland Catholic will face Gateway in Saturday's title game. Mars will prepare for the upcoming state playoffs.

MARS 44

Tai Johnson 4 1-1 9, Alek Johnson 2 0-0 6, Lauren Wasylson 3 1-2 9, Bella Pelaia 4 4-4 13, Ellie Coffield 3 0-0 7, Nichole Sommers 0 0-0 0, Daria Hockenberry 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 6-7 44.

OAKLAND CATHOLIC 48

Jayde Boyd 6 1-3 16, Alexis Sestric 3 1-3 7, Cierra Christian 7 1-1 15, Sierra DeAngelo 3 0-0 7, Mia Cuccaro 1 1-2 3, Abbie Pechin 0 0-0 0, Anna Sproule 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 4-9 48.

Mars 5 15 18 6 — 44

Oakland Cath.19 12 7 10 —48

3-point goals: Mars 6 (A. Johnson 2, Wasylson 2, Pelaia, Coffield); Oakland Catholic 4 (Boyd 3, DeAngelo).

Next: PIAA Class 5A playoffs, TBD