Title Towns!
PITTSBURGH — Robby Carmody dangled from the rim, having rocked the basketball through the rim at Petersen Events Center. The Mars senior forward's dunk was merely symbolic.
Fifty feet away, his teammates were locked in an embrace not paying attention to slam which didn't count.
After falling short in the WPIAL semifinals the past two seasons, Carmody and his teammates eliminated all their district-playoff demons by taking down Franklin Regional 54-44 to capture Mars' first-ever WPIAL Class 5A crown.
“It's been surreal,” said Carmody, who finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. “I know for me and for the rest of these guys, we've been a part of this program since second or third grade.
“We grew up and loved the team, wanting to be like the guys in front of us. I think it's cool that our group will be the first group to finally raise the WPIAL trophy and hopefully it leads to more down the line.”
Avoiding missteps will be key as Mars (21-4) moves forward.
The Planets were able to overcome their adversity against the Planets. Right after halftime, Carmody was hit for a technical foul that resulted in a five-point swing.
Franklin Regional made both free throws and received a 3-pointer from Hunter Stonecheck that put the Panthers ahead 30-26.
Finally, Franklin Regional coach Steve Scorpion felt like he had Mars where they wanted them.
“That's what we talked about at halftime,” Scorpion said. “If we didn't turn the ball over in the first half, we felt like we should have been up six or seven. They hung around. They've been in a lot of big-time games. They didn't get rattled, stuck together and did what they needed to do.”
Mars would battle back and take a 43-41 lead into the fourth quarter following a lay-up by Cade Hetzler. Hetzler, who finished with 13 points, scored several big baskets following steals.
Andrew Recchia led Mars with 14 points.
“We saw them throwing long passes and we knew we could run through them,” Hetzler said. “We wanted to push the ball up because we were faster.”
Having a stout defensive approach helped the Planets pull away. Franklin Regional (20-5) was limited to three points — and one field goal — in the fourth quarter.
Mars coach Rob Carmody knew his team would be ready to handle the pressure. The Planets only allowed one Panther player — Stonecheck finished with 15 points — to reach double figures.
“These guys have been in these situations,” Carmody said. “What we don't get enough credit for is how good we are defensively. How well we defend perimeter, how well we scoop in and help on the interior and how well we rebound for our size.
“To hold them to three points in the fourth quarter is a testament to how we've been taught.”
Mars has also been taught to value the big prize.
Picking up a first WPIAL championship was nice. But now the Planets are eyeing knocking out another hurdle.
Mars — which lost in the PIAA Class 3A final two years ago — wants another trip to Hershey.
“Not really, this isn't the big prize,” said Robby Carmody on if his career would've felt incomplete without a district tile. “The state championship is still out there. This is a little milestone out of the way. Hopefully, we can carry the momentum into the state playoffs.”
