WEXFORD — Mars knew that New Castle's boys basketball team was good.

On Friday night, the Planets found out just how good the Red Hurricanes can be.

Undefeated New Castle managed a 21-2 run in a five-minute stretch that spanned the second and third quarters, sparking a 96-52 victory in a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal at North Allegheny High School.

Mars (17-7) committed 25 turnovers in the loss.

“New Castle (24-0) is too good and too athletic,” said Planets' coach Rob Carmody. “When you have those moments when you get a chance to make things happen against them, you have to take advantage of them. We didn't do that tonight.”

Actually, through the first 13 minutes and 50 seconds of the game, the Planets held their own. They had drained five 3-pointers in that span and when Zach May drove the baseline and got a layup to fall with 2:10 left in the first half, Mars trailed just 33-24.

That's when New Castle coach Ralph Blundo called a timeout and the Hurricanes never looked back.

Anthony Richards drained a 3-pointer shortly after the action resumed and New Castle closed the first half with a 12-2 run, leading 45-26 at the break.

“After that timeout, they came out in a set that we had worked against in practice,” said Carmody. “They set a down screen and our guys did not communicate on it. Richards hit that three and it was a big lift for them.”

Blundo also used the timeout to reset his defense.

“We weren't guarding well in the halfcourt and we weren't closing on their shooters,” he said. “Mars can really shoot the ball well, but we wanted to make them shoot it faster than they wanted to.

“After the timeout, we took our game to a whole other gear and that was big for us,” he added.

Already up by 19 points entering the third period, New Castle scored the first nine points of the second half to take a commanding 54-26 lead.

The competitive aspect of the game was over.

“We've played the best (Class AAA) teams in the WPIAL this season — New Castle, Montour, Hampton and Keystone Oaks,” said Carmody. “Hopefully, our guys now realize the effort it takes and the execution you need to have on every single possession to compete with teams like that.”

Mitch Buzard led Mars with 11 points and May added 10.

Mars was without starting point guard Garrett Ashbaugh (ankle) for the second straight game.

“When you're going up against the second-ranked team in the state, you'd like to have your starting point guard,” said Carmody. “But that's no excuse. We have other guys more than capable of playing that position.”

The Red Hurricanes featured five players in double figures, led by 21 points from junior forward Antonio Rudolph.

If New Castle wins its semifinal game against Beaver on Tuesday, Mars will qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in program history.

MARS 52Owen Nearhoof 3 2-3 9, Ethan Lewis 0 2-2 2, Alex Locher 1 3-4 5, Matt Getsy 3 0-0 6, Mitch Buzard 4 0-0 11, Zach May 4 0-0 10, Josh Goetz 3 0-0 6, Jason Lozzi 1 0-0 2, Gabe Spurlock 0 1-2 1, Ben Erdahl 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 19 8-11 52.

NEW CASTLE 96Corey Eggleston 3 2-2 8, Jermaine Cuffie 5 0-1 10, Jesse Salzano 3 0-0 8, Antonio Rudolph 10 0-0 21, Brandon Domenick 3 0-0 8, Shawn Anderson 8 0-0 16, Levar Ware 1 0-0 2, Anthony Richards 4 0-0 12, Malik Hooker 5 1-2 11, Stew Allen 0 0-1 0, Paul Jones 0 0-0 0, Drew Allen 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 42 3-5 96.

Mars 13 13 8 18—52New Castle 19 26 26 25—963-point goals: Mars 6 (Buzard 3, May 2, Nearhoof); New Castle 9 (Richards 4, Salzano 2, Domenick 2, Rudolph).