Andrew Moraca of Mars, right, fights for a loose ball with Uniontown's Daryl Ricks during their WPIAL playoff game Wednesday. The Planets' season ended with a 59-42 loss.

MONROEVILLE — Mars and Uniontown began Wednesday's WPIAL Class AAA boys basketball playoff game with cold shooting hands.

While the Red Raiders' soon warmed up, the Planets' never did.

Mars scored just 23 points in the first three quarters, shooting an anemic 19 percent (8-of-41) from the field in that span, as the Planets' season ended with a 59-42 loss at Gateway High.

“As a coach, you go over different scenarios in your head before a game is played,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “In no scenario did I see us shooting the ball as poorly as we did tonight.”

Both teams struggled early as Mars missed its first six shots and Uniontown its first five.

The Raiders finally broke the ice with Semori Wilson's bucket with 3:53 remaining in the opening period.

The Planets attempted 13 shots in the first eight minutes and only one fell — Christian Locher's 3-pointer — as Uniontown led 12-3 entering the second quarter.

“We had some early foul trouble,” said Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky. “But with our senior leadership and sophomores giving us some good minutes, we got through it. I think our quickness had a lot to do with that.”

Trailing 24-7 midway through the second period, the Planets managed a 6-0 run, thanks to a pair of baskets by Mitch Buzard and one by Locher.

The spurt pulled Mars to within 11 points, but a dunk by Uniontown's Daryl Ricks halted the Planets' momentum.

Nine first-half turnovers didn't help Mars' chances, either.

“We were prepared for their (2-3) zone,” said Carmody. “We scrimmaged Greensburg Central Catholic and Shaler on Saturday, two of the best teams in the state. We moved the ball well, shot the ball well.

“Tonight, I just kept thinking that one basket would get everybody going, but it didn't happen that way.”Any hopes of a Mars comeback were put to rest when Uniontown outscored the Planets 20-8 in the third quarter.Playing catch-up for almost the entire game, Mars shot 28 3-pointers, making just three of them.“We shot way too many 3s,” said Carmody. “We were way too passive on offense and it snowballed on us.”Ricks and Marcus Thomas each had 14 points for Uniontown, while Nick Hall and Wilson both added 12.The Raiders (16-5) controlled the boards as well, grabbing 48 rebounds to Mars' 25.Locher led Mars with 13 points.The loss ends an otherwise memorable year for the Planets (18-5), who won the most games in a season in Carmody's 13 years as head coach.“This loss hurts right now, but I told the guys I'm proud of them,” he said. “This senior class has been to the playoffs four straight years.”Playing their final game for the Planets were seniors Brad Weischedel, Christian Locher, Jake Lee, Andrew Moraca and Brandon Eckstein.<B>MARS 42</B>Garrett Ashbaugh 1 3-4 6, Brad Weischedel 1 0-0 2, Christian Locher 5 1-2 13, Owen Nearhoof 0 1-2 1, Ben Erdahl 2 0-0 4, Jake Lee 1 0-2 2, Alex Locher 1 0-0 2, Matt Getsy 1 0-0 2, Mitch Buzard 3 2-2 8, Brandon Eckstein 1 0-0 2, Andrew Moraca 0 0-0 0, Josh Goetz 0 0-0 0, Zach May 0 0-0 0. <B>Totals:</B> 16 7-12 42.<B>UNIONTOWN 59</B>Daryl Ricks 5 4-5 14, Marcus Thomas 7 0-0 14, Nick Hall 5 1-2 12, Dreher Winfrey 1 0-0 2, David Brooks 0 2-2 2, Semori Wilson 5 0-0 12, Kerik Morris 1 1-1 3, Christian Kezmarsky 0 0-0 0, Maurice Godfrey 0 0-0 0, Chris Hall 0 0-0 0. <B>Totals:</B> 24 8-10 59.<B>Mars 3 12 8 19—42Uniontown 12 16 20 11—593-point goals:</B> Mars 3 (C. Locher 2, Ashbaugh); Uniontown 3 (Wilson 2, N. Hall).

Mars #5 Christian Locher reacts in the final seconds against Uniontown during First round WPIAL AAA boys basketball playoff game at Gateway on Wednesday February 23, 2011. Mars lost 59-42.