ADAMS TWP — It wasn't that Steve Cress and Vinny Smith each scored in double figures in the first half against Indiana that impressed Mars coach Rob Carmody.

It certainly wasn't when the Planets didn't score for more than six minutes to start the second half.

But when the Planets allowed only five points in that span to avoid an Indians comeback, well, that caught Carmody's eye.

Mars enjoyed a 25-6 run to close out the first half to build a 19-point lead and went on to post a 54-37 Section 1-AAA victory.

"In the continuing evolution of this basketball team, going back before the Christmas Tournament, about six games, we've entered halftime tied or ahead in the lead," said Carmody. "Then, in the second half, we fell apart.

"In the second half (Tuesday), for whatever reason, we didn't come out strong. We had a six-minute drought, but I was pleased with our defense."

Mars (5-9, 2-3) was able to build a huge first-half lead against the Indians (4-12, 0-5) by working the ball inside and scoring on several easy layups.

With the game tied at 6, Mars went on an 8-0 run and scored 15 of the next 17 points to open a 21-8 lead with 6:34 remaining before halftime.

After a score by Indiana's Dan Ayebo, Mars closed out the half on a 10-2 run to take a 31-12 lead.

Cress scored 11 points and Smith 10 in the first half. They finished the game with 21 and 12, respectively.

In the second half, Indiana used three free throws and a basket by Ayebo to make it 31-17 with 4:18 left in the third quarter.

A Dan Colbert basket got the Planets off the schneid. Another Ayebo basket trimmed the deficit back to 14, but a three-point play by Chris Herold gave Mars a 36-19 lead with 1:27 left in the frame.

Indiana got no closer than 15 points the rest of the way. It mustered only 12 baskets from the field and scored 13 of its points from the free-throw line.

"The difference between last year and this year is, in a two-minute stretch, we could get a couple of 3s, a couple of baskets and some free throws and score 12 points last year. We had the ability to spur," Carmody said.

"This year, we're more of a halfcourt team. We may not get that spurt. We're mudders. We're not going to score games in the 70s."

Notes: Dom Lombardi led the Indians with 17 points, including 11 in the second half, and Ayebo added 10. ... The game marked the Indians' 10 consecutive loss and have dropped 12 of 13. They opened the season at 3-0 after winning their own Tip-Off Tournament.

INDIANA37Dom Lombardi 4 9-11 17, Kevin Stapleton 0 2-2 2, Dan Ayebo 5 0-0 10, Andy DeGory 0 0-0 0, Ben Fiscus 0 0-0 0, Mike Miller 1 0-0 2, Brett Johnson 1 0-0 2, Mike Olechoski 1 2-2 4, Matt Antis 0 0-0 0, Will Martin 0 0-0 0, Mike Garritano 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 12 13-16 37.

MARS 54Chris Herold 2 1-1 6, Dan Colbert 2 0-0 5, D.J. Cannon 2 0-0 4, Vinny Smith 6 0-1 12, Steve Cress 9 3-7 21, Ryan Nearhoof 0 0-0 0, Dave Petruska 2 0-0 4, Ryan Schroth 1 0-0 2, Chris Cassidy 0 0-0 0, Brandon Stadelmyer 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 24 4-9 54.

Indiana 8 4 8 17—37Mars 19 12 7 16—543-point goals: Herold, Colbert

JV: Mars, 48-37

Friday: Mars at Knoch