ADAMS TWP — “We are the champions!”

The lyrics of Queen's popular song echoed through the bowels of Mars High School Thursday night.

The source was the Mars girls basketball team's locker room, where the Planets were celebrating a 46-21 defeat of rival Knoch, clinching a share of the Section 1-AAA title for Mars.

The Planets (11-11 overall) and Hampton both finished the section slate with identical 9-1 records.

It's the first section title for Mars in five seasons.

“I can't say it enough, how proud I am of these girls,” said Planets' coach Tony Howard. “We may not have said it much, but back in the summer, we felt there was something special about this group.”

But before the Planets could set their sights on a section title, they needed a confidence boost after a poor start in non-section play.

Mars was just 2-8 after 10 games.

“We were down,” said senior forward Brinsley Evanson. “But I remember telling the other girls that I wanted a section title.

“Standing here now, I couldn't be happier.”

The only blemish on Mars' section mark is a loss to Hampton Jan. 12, a defeat the Planets avenged by beating the Talbots 48-46 Feb. 2.

Thursday's victory means the Planets will enter the playoffs on a five-game winning streak.

“I feel we're playing really well right now,” said Howard. “It's always good to have momentum going into the playoffs.”

The WPIAL pairings meeting will be held Tuesday. Howard will make sure his team is physically and mentally prepared for its first playoff opponent.

“Coach is always telling us not to get too high or too low,” said senior guard Randi Francis, who led Thursday's win with 14 points. “We just take it one game at a time.”

As for Knoch, a playoff berth also awaits the Knights (9-11, 5-5), but the team enters Monday's regular-season finale at Bishop Canevin on a four-game losing skid.

“They're a good team and we will be facing a good team in the playoffs,” said Knoch coach Sean O'Donnell. “So I'm hoping we can use that game as a tune-up, to get back on the right track.”

KNOCH 21Celina Sanks 4 0-5 8, Kate Miller 1 0-0 2, Savanna Steffen 0 2-3 2, Brooke Armahizer 2 1-2 5, Angela Cress 2 0-0 4, Rachel Neff 0 0-0 0, Amber Henzel 0 0-0 0, Sam Logan 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 9 3-10 21.

MARS 46Randi Francis 5 3-7 14, Brinsley Evanson 2 0-0 4, Teresa Dallatore 2 2-6 6, Alyssa Mathews 2 0-0 4, Sarah Getsy 2 0-1 5, Ali Goetz 4 5-7 13, Bri Wilkinson 0 0-0 0, Paige Castora 0 0-0 0, Hunter Berneberg 0 0-0 0, Sydney Cole 0 0-0 0, Lexie Mowery 0 0-0 0, Bonnie Workman 0 0-0 0, Daniella Paras 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17 10-21 46.

Knoch 6 3 4 8—21Mars 10 11 14 11—463-point goals: Knoch 0; Mars 2 (Francis, Getsy).

Monday: Knoch at Bishop Canevin