End of the Ride
NEW CASTLE — Andrew Recchia couldn't contain his emotions when he walked off the court after fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
The Mars senior point guard buried his head into the shoulder of Planets' coach Rob Carmody and wept.
At a timeout shortly after, Michael Carmody leaned down and consoled Recchia with a hug on the bench.
It was an emotional end to the season for the Mars boys basketball team after a 73-55 loss to Moon Monday night in the PIAA 5A semifinals at New Castle High School.
“Kids throw around the word love a lot,” said Coach Carmody. “'I love my radio. I love my car. I love this and that. But that's love. They're crying because they love their teammates and it's real. I would be disappointed if Andrew didn't cry. He should cry. He should care.”
The defeat was a tough one to take for Mars (27-2).
The loss ended a 22-game winning streak for the Planets.
And it came to a Moon team the Planets rallied from 18 down to beat in the WPIAL final a little more than two weeks ago.
There would be no rally this time.
Moon (27-2) didn't do much wrong, never trailed, and led by 11 at the half.
Read the rest of the story in Tuesday's print edition of the Butler Eagle
