JEFFERSON TWP — Mars boys basketball coach Rob Carmody wasn't fretting about a first-place showdown with state-ranked Hampton Tuesday night.

Carmody wanted to add another Section 1-AAA road win to the Planets' resume Friday night. His team responded with a solid defensive effort, forcing 31 turnovers in a 59-35 win over the Knights.

The Planets, who are ranked seventh in the state and have won seven straight, improved to 13-1 and 6-0 in the section.

“You try to go mile marker by mile marker. You don't start jumping ahead,” Mars coach Rob Carmody said. “People are going to come here and lose basketball games and you're jockeying for playoff position. We're trying to stack wins.”

Collecting wins, freshman Robby Carmody believes, is all about effort. The Planets employed several different defensive styles to stymie Knoch (7-5, 4-2).

When the Knights lost point guard Austin Hannes to a knee injury 15 seconds in, Mars utilized a matchup zone to pressure the ball handlers.

“We had to play harder than them,” Carmody said. “I feel like if we play harder than any team, we have a chance to win no matter who we're playing.”

Without Hannes, who was injured after his leg gave out when he stole the ball and was trying to lead a fast break, Knoch struggled to score against the Planets.

Hannes is the Knights' second-leading scorer and was averaging 11.9 points per game entering the Mars game.

“Austin's been getting better every game, better in every practice,” Knights coach Ron McNabb said. “He really understands what it takes to be a player. You saw the first play of the game how he got high off the floor. It hurt us, and my heart breaks for him.”

Mars, which trailed 6-0 after the first three minutes, responded with a 14-2 run.

John Castello, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, finished a layup on a pass from Ryan Giallonardo with 2:28 left in the first quarter to put Mars ahead 9-8.

The Planets extended the lead to 16-8 before P.J. Gourley stopped the run with a layup.

Mars led 33-20 at the half and switched styles again in the third. The Planets ran two minutes off the clock by holding the ball.

“They were trying to make us shoot 3s and get rebounds to get back in the game,” Coach Carmody said. “Our guys are used to play aggressively. I was sitting there worried, but on a Friday night section game you win the game we have to win.”

Matt Zanella and Jackson McKee both finished with 10 points for Knoch. Zanella's layup with 4:35 left in the third cut the lead to 36-26. Mars answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Robby Carmody.

“Only giving up 35 points is tremendous,” said Robby Carmody, who finished with 11 points. “I know they didn't have their best player, he got hurt, but giving up 35 points is tremendous.”

MARS 59

Alex Gruber 2 4-7 8, John Castello 8 0-0 16, Ryan Giallonardo 1 1-1 3, Christian Schmitt 4 0-0 9, Rob Carmody 4 0-0 11, Bailey Trzeciak 1 0-0 3, Nate Sablowski 1 0-0 2, Aaron Gruber 1 0-0 3, Mitch Verplank 2 0-0 4, Brandt Kepreos 0 0-0 0, Sam Morrissey 0 0-0 0, Nate Bayuk 0 0-0 0, Noah Tresky 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 5-8 59.

KNOCH 35

Troy Hixson 1 0-0 2, Matt Zanella 5 0-0 10, Jackson McKee 2 6-6 10, Austin Hannes 1 0-0 2, PJ Gourley 2 0-1 4, Josh Knochel 1 0-0 3, Josh Campbell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 8-9 35.

Mars 13 20 10 16 — 59

Knoch8 12 6 9 — 35

3-point goals: Mars 5 (Carmody 3, Aa. Gruber, Trzeciak); Knoch 1 (Knochel)

Tuesday: Hampton at Mars; Knoch at Freeport