ROSS TWP — The Mars girls basketball team feels it exited the WPIAL playoffs much too early.

On Tuesday night, the Planets took the first step of what they hope is a lengthy state-playoff run.

Mars opened the second quarter with a 13-0 run and went on to thump Peabody, 72-37, in a PIAA Class AAA play-in game at North Hills High School.

The win sets up a Butler County showdown when Mars faces District 10 champion Slippery Rock at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University.

It had been 11 days since the Planets (24-3) last played, losing to Montour in the WPIAL quarterfinals Feb. 23.

But Mars coach Dave Sylvester wasn't worried about the long layoff.

"We had a good five days of practice," said Sylvester. "I wasn't expecting us to be rusty."

After falling behind 10-2 early in the game, the Highlanders went on a 9-5 run at the end of the first quarter and trailed 15-11 entering the second period.

But when Haley Geyer drained a 3-pointer with 5:32 left in the first half, the Planets' edge stood at 28-11. Mars finished the second period outscoring Peabody, 25-7, in the quarter.

"I didn't get to watch film on (Peabody)," said Sylvester. "I did talk to the Allderdice coach and she told me that they would probably play us zone and that they had a few girls who could shoot the ball. But she said we should be able to handle them."

And the Planets did just that.

They forced the Highlanders (11-13) into 16 turnovers and a 29 percent shooting performance (7-of-24) in the first half, after which Mars led 40-18.

Geyer, the Planets' 3-point shooting specialist, had four of them, including three in the second quarter. She ended the game with 14 points.

Her only 3-point goal against Montour came late in the game when the outcome had already been decided.

"She just wasn't in the offensive flow against Montour," Sylvester said of Geyer. "I think Peabody gave her a bit more room tonight. If she starts out decent, you know you're probably going to get a good game out of her."

Lily Grenci added 14 points for Mars, while Maggie Bulman and Cara Hudac both added 11.

Peabody was led by Makala Williams' 17 points and Doneika Deaderick chipped in with 13.

PEABODY 37Makala Williams 6 3-5 17, Shatoya Lindsey 1 2-4 4, Jayla Powell 0 1-3 1, Doneika Deaderick 5 1-2 13, Ty Lewis 1 0-2 2, Amanda Anderson 0 0-0 0, India McMiller 0 0-0 0, S. Lindsey 0 0-0 0, Alexis Combes 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 13 7-16 37.

MARS 72Megan Gibson 2 0-0 4, Katie Demetriadis 0 1-2 1, Cara Hudac 5 0-0 11, Vanessa Pappas 1 1-2 4, Rachel Pinkerton 1 0-0 2, Haley Geyer 4 2-2 14, Karly Takach 3 0-1 6, Lily Grenci 6 2-2 14, Maggie Bulman 4 3-4 11, Kehle Pelles 0 1-2 1, Ashley Lynch 1 0-0 2, Elaine Hasek 0 2-2 2, Kelsey Ferguson 0 0-2 0, Victoria Gressang 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 27 12-19 72.

Peabody 11 7 13 6—37Mars 15 25 16 16—723-point goals: Peabody 4 (Williams 2, Deadrick 2); Mars 6 (Geyer 4, Pappas, Hudac).

Saturday: Mars vs. Slippery Rock — PIAA Class AAA first-round playoff, 4:30 p.m. at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

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