ADAMS TWP — Mary Ellen Dickson finished handing out the awards and trophies at the Scott Lang Memorial Tournament when she had one more request.

The Mars boys basketball team insisted Dickson join them in the team photo after winning the tip-off tournament Saturday at Mars High School.

Dickson is the mother of former La Roche College men’s basketball coach and Mars graduate Scott Lang, who the tournament is named in honor of.

Lang collapsed during a practice in December of 2010 and died of a heart attack at the age of 41.

The basketball court at La Roche is now named in his honor.

“It’s exciting for us to be involved, for the family to be involved,” said Dickson, who is 68 and a Shaler resident. “My children loved growing up in Mars and to be still involved in the history of basketball there is rewarding.”

Dickson gave out the awards after the championship game the past two seasons.

Having Dickson back was important for Planets coach Rob Carmody.

Carmody, who was close to Lang, wants his kid to learn about more than hoops.

“To have his mom here and to be involved in the tournament, that means more to me than winning or losing a basketball game,” Carmody said. “That’s what these kids are going to take away. They have this connection to a man who lived his life in a great way.”

Mars has certainly made things interesting the past two seasons.

The Planets beat Seneca Valley on a buzzer-beater by Owen Nearhoof to win last year’s tournament.

Last Saturday, John Castello made the game-winning jumper with seven seconds remaining to give the Planets a 51-49 win over Ambridge.

There were two lead changes in the fourth quarter and the game was tied twice in the final three minutes.

“It’s probably my age, but it’s hard on my blood pressure,” Dickson joked. “It’s exciting and always fun when it goes our way.”

Junior forward John Castello recorded a double-double for Mars, finishing with 10 points and 16 rebounds against the Bridgers.

“We honored Scott Lang and got two wins, which was what we wanted to do,” Castello said. “It was a great time. We had a lot of fun.”

Carmody believes Lang would’ve loved the game against Ambridge.

Two teams fighting to the end for an early-season win.

Dickson agrees, even if he would be embarrassed having a tournament named after him.

“I think Scott would’ve been very happy and pleased,” Dickson said. “Not happy it would have been named in his honor, that’s not what he was like. He didn’t necessarily like himself to be put out front.”

Josh Rizzo is a sports writer for the Butler Eagle.