ADAMS TWP — It wasn't pretty, but it didn't have to be.

The Mars boys basketball team built a big first-quarter lead and maintained it the rest of the way in a 63-52 win over Kittanning Friday night.

The game was sloppy at times, but the Planets did what they needed to do to keep their winning streak, now at seven games, alive.

“A win in this section is a win in this section,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “Anyone in this section can beat anyone.”

Early, it looked as if Mars (9-3 overall, 5-1 in the section) was going to run the Wildcats (3-10, 0-6) out of the gym.

The Planets led 20-11 after the first quarter.

Josh Goetz was a big reason why Mars was able to build such a lead.

Goetz scored 10 points in the first quarter, but played sparingly after that because of foul trouble.

He ended up with 13 points and eight rebounds.

“As he has done from Day 1, Josh Goetz continues to get better and better,” Carmody said. “We were doing the best job we have done all season getting the ball into him. But, unfortunately, he picks up that second foul and has to go to the bench for a little bit. He gets out of rhythm and the other guys get out of rhythm in finding him.”

The two teams played even after the first quarter.

Kittanning got as close as 24-19 midway through the second quarter, but fell behind by 11 at the half.

“That's kind of been the story of our season,” said Kittanning coach Bill Henry. “We haven't been able to string enough plays together to get over the hump, so to speak.”

Missed layups haunted both teams throughout the night, but Kittanning in particular.

The Wildcats were also dismal at the free-throw line, hitting just 5-of-14 attempts.

“I'm tired of pulling my hair out,” Henry said. “If one more person says layups and free throws ... anybody who knows basketball knows you work on that every day in practice. But once you get into game speed, they just get a little bit anxious.”

One of the bright spots for Kittanning was junior Sterling Henry, who scored 27 points.

He also had 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

“He's the kid for us who has to play 32 minutes, has to play hard every minute and has to be the guy who puts the ball in the basket for us. The other ones have been struggling,” Henry said.

No such problem for Mars. Despite their own shooting woes against the Wildcats, the Planets had four players score in double digits, led by 19 by Mitchell Buzard.

Garrett Ashbaugh and Owen Nearhoof each added 11 points, but the Planets — usually a dangerous perimeter shooting team — made just one 3-pointer.

That was partly because of the Kittanning defensive game plan.

“We'd rather them go to the hoop and score than beat us by hitting 3s all night,” coach Henry said.

With its outside game stymied, Mars went to the hoop — and to the line.

The Planets hit 22 of their 30 free throw attempts.

That performance kept Kittanning down by at least eight points the entire second half.

“It was another night when we did not shoot the ball well,” Carmody said. “I'm just waiting for a night when Josh is rolling, we're going to the hoop and making 3-pointers.

“I probably sound crazy. We win a basketball game, but I'm in there saying we have to do this better and this better and this better,” Carmody added. “There is still so much growth for them to become a complete team.”

KITTANNING 52Blake Crissman 1-2 0-0 2, Phil Falchetti 0-0 0-0 0, Sterling Henry 12-21 2-4 27, Ty Lambert 1-3 0-2 2, Kevin Barnes 0-1 2-2 2, Mitch Pirhalla 0-1 0-0 0, Mike Foster 5-9 1-2 11, Vince Mead 4-8 0-4 8.

Totals: 23-45 5-14 52.

MARS 63Garrett Ashbaugh 4-7 2-4 11, Owen Nearhoof 3-16 5-6 11, Alex Locher 2-6 1-1 3, Matt Getsy 1-5 0-0 2, Mitchell Buzard 5-7 9-11 19, Zach May 0-2 2-2 2, Josh Goetz 5-7 3-4 13.

Totals: 20-52 22-30 63.

Kittanning 11 12 15 14—52Mars 20 14 14 15—633-point goals: Kittanning 1 (Henry); Mars 1 (Ashbaugh).

JV Score: Mars 68-33

Tuesday: Mars at Knoch