ADAMS TWP — The Mars boys basketball team may be going through some growing pains, but winning has a way of making that process a much smoother ride.

The Planets featured four players scoring in double figures in a 62-60 win over previously unbeaten Sto-Rox Tuesday night at the Mars Holiday Tournament.

Mars (3-3) will meet Seneca Valley, an 80-50 winner over Northgate, in the championship game today at 6 p.m.

The Planets' girls also advanced to the title game with a 41-37 victory over Sto-Rox. Mars will face Hopewell today at 7:30 p.m.

Mars' boys and Sto-Rox were tied at 57 with just 1:50 left in the game when Josh Goetz sank a 2-point basket to give the Planets a slim lead.

The Vikings (5-1) turned the ball over and Goetz put in two more points for a 61-57 edge.

Then, with 13 seconds on the clock, the junior center hit one of two free throws for a 62-60 lead.

A last-second shot by Sto-Rox did not fall, sealing the Planets' win.

Goetz ended the game with 12 points, all in the second half.

“Those two straight possessions where he scored in the fourth quarter, when the game was in the balance, that was big,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “No disrespect to Sto-Rox, but Josh was the best player on the floor in the fourth quarter.”

It was a balanced scoring effort for the Planets, as Mitch Buzard (13), Owen Nearhoof (13) and Matt Getsy (10) also reached double digits in points.

“We have several guys who can score,” said Carmody. “The biggest thing for us right now is to identify the open guy. We have to continue to grow, but we're getting there.”

The Vikings trailed 30-28 at halftime, but opened up the third quarter on an 11-4 run to take the lead.

Sto-Rox coach Bill Minear then watched his team give up a 12-6 run to the Planets, which included a pair of conventional 3-point plays from Goetz and Alex Locher.

“We haven't shot the ball well all year, but in those first five games we did play well defensively,” said Minear. “We didn't do that tonight. We gave up too many 3-pointers.”

In fact, the Vikings allowed Mars to drain seven trifectas, including four from Nearhoof.

n Seneca Valley's romp over Northgate began early, as the Raiders led 26-12 after one period and 47-22 at halftime.

Easton Bazzoli led SV's offense with 16 points and the Raiders (4-3) forced 25 turnovers.

“We were solid in all aspects of the game,” said Raiders' coach Victor Giannotta. “As far as the turnovers, we're a tall team. If the kids just put their hands up, it's not rocket science.”

Girls Basketball Mars 41, Sto-Rox 37

Ali Goetz may be listed as a freshman on Mars' roster, but she did not play like one Tuesday night.

The 5-foot-7 forward scored 22 of the Planets' 41 points in a win over Sto-Rox.

The effort included a 14-of-16 performance from the free-throw line.

“I'm glad to score all of the points I did, but even happier that we were able to win the game,” said Goetz.

The Planets and Vikings were mired in a tight game throughout and Goetz's nine points in the fourth period were vital to the game's outcome.

“She's becoming the player who we're looking to get the ball to,” Planets' coach Tony Howard said. “She's crossed that line as a freshman. We were able to get the ball to her for several baskets tonight.”

With the game tied at 34 and 2:55 left in the final period, Goetz made a pair of free throws for a two-point lead.

Randi Francis put a stop to the Vikings' ensuing possession with a steal and got a layup to fall for a 38-34 edge as the Planets (2-5) held on for their second victory of the season.

“(Except for the season opener), we've competed and have had a chance to win every game,” said Howard. “Getting this win helps.”

BoysSTO-ROX 60Randy Hutchinson 5 2-2 14, J.J. Short 3 1-2 9, Carrington Ragin 2 0-0 4, Dontez Ford 5 1-2 11, Marzett Geter 2 2-4 6, Lamonte Harrington 3 1-2 8, Lenny Williams 4 0-2 8.

Totals: 24 7-14 60.

MARS 62Josh Goetz 5 2-3 12, Mitch Buzard 4 4-8 13, Matt Getsy 4 1-2 10, Owen Nearhoof 4 1-2 13, Garrett Ashbaugh 0 1-3 1, Alex Locher 3 2-3 8, Zach May 2 0-0 5.

Totals: 22 11-21 62.

Sto-Rox 10 18 21 11—60Mars 12 18 21 11—623-point goals: Sto-Rox 5 (Hutchinson 2, Short 2, Harrington); Mars 7 (Nearhoof 4, Getsy, Buzard, May).

Today: Seneca Valley at Mars, 6 p.m.

BoysNORTHGATE 50Matt Lee 2 0-0 4, Dan Bistrican 3 1-2 9, Jake Abernathy 3 0-0 7, Dylan Muller 2 0-0 5, Mackenzie Quinn 3 1-2 8, Jon Girvin 5 7-10 17, Justin Parra 0 0-2 0, Dave Natale 0 0-0 0, Shaquawn Cole 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 18 9-16 50.

SENECA VALLEY 80Matt Darby 1 0-0 3, Matt Smith 4 2-2 11, Easton Bazzoli 6 1-1 16, Zach Spangler 1 0-0 2, T.J. Holl 1 0-0 2, Chad Albert 3 0-0 6, Eric Woods 1 0-0 2, Alex Maxfield 2 6-8 11, Ryan McCauley 2 2-2 6, Austin Bream 6 0-0 12, Alex Snyder 4 1-4 9, Oliver Philogene 0 0-0 0, Dan Cashdollar 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 31 12-17 80.

Northgate 12 10 10 18—50Seneca Valley 26 21 21 12—803-point goals: Northgate 5 (Bistrican 2, Abernathy, Muller, Quinn); Seneca Valley 6 (Bazzoli 3, Maxfield, Smith, Darby).

Today: Seneca Valley at Mars, 6 p.m.

Girls

STO-ROX 37Natalya Smarra 7 2-4 18, Haley Weisser 2 2-4 6, Anja Weisser 3 0-1 6, Aimee Miller 2 0-2 4, Dinazhia Barksdale 0 3-7 3, Josie Buckley 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 14 7-18 37.

MARS 41Randi Francis 2 3-9 7, Brinsley Evanson 3 1-1 7, Paige Castora 1 0-0 2, Sarah Getsy 1 1-4 3, Ali Goetz 4 14-16 22, Bonnie Workman 0 0-0 0, Jessica Bunner 0 0-0 0, Bri Wilkinson 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Mathews 0 0-0 0, Teresa Dallatore 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 11 19-30 41.

Sto-Rox 6 12 9 10—37Mars 12 6 7 16—413-point goals: Sto-Rox 2 (Smarra 2); Mars 0.

Today: Hopewell at Mars, 7:30 p.m.