The Mars girls basketball team has made it to the second round of the PIAA playoffs for the first time in over nine years.

Getting any further will be a tall order ... literally.

The Planets (21-6) defeated District 10 champion Franklin, 38-35 on Saturday and were rewarded with a date with City League runner-up Westinghouse, 6 p.m. Wednesday at North Hills High School in a Class AAA second-round affair.

The Bulldogs, who defeated Kittanning 49-39 in the opening round, have a 6-feet-6 sophomore center at their disposal in Shawnice Wilson.

Wilson leads her team with an average of 14 points per game. In the Kittanning victory, she managed 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Westinghouse moved on in the state playoffs despite the absence of its head coach, Phyllis Jones, who has been suspended for one year by the City League for allegedly recruiting a player.

Jones was not available for comment regarding her team's upcoming battle with Mars.

The Bulldogs (24-4) will be coached by assistant Talitha Cox.

Mars has played several games this season against teams with strong post players.

"Our first game of the season was against West Allegheny and they have Ohio State recruit Andrea Walker (a 6-feet-4 senior center)," said Planets coach Dave Sylvester. "And Kittanning's got some size inside as well."

Mars lost the game to West Allegheny (61-51) and swept Kittanning by scores of 32-21 and 54-29.

"I think we know how to defend size pretty well," Sylvester added.

According to the first-year Mars coach, defending Westinghouse begins with attacking the Bulldogs' guards.

"We don't want their guards to be able to come down the floor and get free looks to (Wilson) inside," Sylvester said. "We need to pressure them in the backcourt, which will make her step out from the basket to relieve that pressure. That's how we plan to do it."

The Bulldogs aren't, however, a one-player team.

Sophomore guard/forward Assata Ogbanna is averaging 13 points per game and led the PIAA opening round win with 18 points.

Senior guard Kelly Smith is putting up 10 points per game.

"(Smith) is a decent guard," said Sylvester.

Mars' Abby Marshall scored 14 points in the win over Franklin. The 5-feet-11 junior forward has range, making 22 3-pointers this season.

Lily Grenci, a 5-feet-11 freshman forward, is also expected to start with her 7.8 points per game.

Grenci has shown the ability to be a go-to scorer, managing at least 13 points in seven games this season. Her career-high of 20 points came in a WPIAL first-round playoff win over Keystone Oaks.

Mars is led by Julie Utz. The senior guard is averaging 10.3 points per game.

The Mars-Westinghouse survivor will meet the winner of the Hopewell-Punxsutawney game Saturday.