HAMPTON TWP - Everything seemed to be in place for Mars to defeat Hampton on its home floor.

That's when the Planets' offense simply disappeared.

Mars entered the fourth quarter down by only one point, but the Planets managed just four points in the final eight minutes of play as the Talbots boys basketball team posted a 55-49 Section 1-AAA victory.

The Planets committed 21 turnovers in the game, including six in the final period.

"You can't go on the road and play a team who is fighting for a section title, commit 21 turnovers and expect to win," said Mars coach Rob Carmody.

The Planets trailed 46-45 midway through the final period when they had two consecutive possessions end with a turnover. Hampton's Brian Dandrea converted both miscues into baskets, giving the Talbots a 50-45 lead.

"We had the ball and we just got a bit lazy two times in a row," said Carmody.

The offensive slump spoiled a superb performance from Mars' Sean Gallagher, who scored 12 of his 21 points in the third period.

"What a third quarter Sean had," said Carmody. "He put this team on his back and was absolutely unbelievable, all over the place in the third."

With Mars trailing 40-39 late in the third period, Gallagher forced a Talbot turnover before putting back a Tim Frye miss at the other end to give his team its first lead of the game at 41-40.

"Mars is a balanced team," said Hampton coach Joe Lafko. "They have several players who can score in double digits, and (Gallagher) is one of them."

The Talbots got off to a fast start, shooting 10 of 17 for 59 percent from the field for a 23-14 lead after one quarter.

"Our transition game was working very well early on," said Lafko. "It helped us jump out to an early lead."

"We spent so much energy just trying to stay in it there at the beginning," Carmody said.

In the end, it was his defense that Lafko was most impressed with, especially in the fourth quarter.

"I thought (Zach) Ingoldsby did a great job defending Tim Frye," he said. "And (Bob) Bartley shut down Gallagher in that fourth quarter."

Charlie Jaicks added 10 points for the Planets (14-6, 7-3) while Bartley led Hampton with 14.

Both teams entered the game with hopes of winning the section, but the loss dropped Mars from that equation. The Planets have qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, however.

The Talbots (13-6, 8-2) still have a section crown in their sights.

"We need to win our last two (Valley and Deer Lakes) and we need Knoch to lose one more (Highlands, Valley and Mars)," said Lafko.

MARS 49

Charlie Jaicks 4 0-0 10, Scott Martinelli 2 2-2 4, Robbie Herold 2 0-0 4, Tim Frye 3 1-2 8, Sean Gallagher 10 1-4 21, Steve Cress 0 0-0 0, Dusty Wessel 0 0-0 0, Mark Lucas 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 4-8 49.

HAMPTON 55

Joe Cangilla 2 4-4 8, Brian Dandrea 3 0-1 6, John Ward 3 2-3 8, Bob Bartley 6 2-5 14, Steve Paskorz 2 0-0 4, Mike Bittner 4 1-1 9, Zach Ingoldsby 3 0-0 6. Totals: 23 9-14 55.

3-point goals:

Jaicks 2, Frye.

JV:

Mars 46-43 (M-Steve Cress 12 points; H-Asa Braxton 18)

Friday:

Mars @ Neshannock

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