ADAMS TWP — Mars boys basketball team’s two junior big men, 6-4 forward Alex Gruber and 6-5 center John Castello, are ready for one of their toughest tests tonight.

Beaver Falls has a plethora of athletic big men ready to attack in what should be a high-scoring PIAA Class AAA second-round playoff game at 7:30 p.m. at Ambridge High School.

Three sophomores — forward Donovan Jeter (6-5), forward Josh Creach (6-5) and Caiden Cook (6-3) — give the Tigers enough big bodies to threaten Mars’ best season in school history.

The Planets (25-2) set a school record for wins when they beat Somerset 78-48 last Friday to reach the round of 16 for the first time.

“We watched them on film and we played against them last year,” said Gruber, who missed Mars’ 75-65 loss to Beaver Falls with an injury. “I think John and I can use our athleticism, space them out and do our best to contain them on defense.”

Creach is averaging 18.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season while Jeter is netting 16.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per contest.

Creach, who has a 7-foot wingspan, gives the Tigers’ guards room to play more freely because he can block shots.

Jeter’s athleticism runs in his family. His brother, Sheldon, is a forward on the University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team. Beaver Falls has added depth with senior forward Syron Noles (6-3) and freshman center Malique Whaley (6-5).

Beaver Falls also has plenty of athletes at the guard position.

Freshman point guard Torian Leak, who is 5-9, has played on an AAU team with Mars freshman Robby Carmody since they were in third grade.

And Zack Duffy scored 20 points — hitting six 3-pointers — in the Tigers’ 76-50 win over Meadville in the first round of the PIOAA tourney.

“We’ve played guys that were bigger, but those guys have unique skills,” Mars coach Rob Carmody said. “Both of them can shoot the ball and get points off offensive rebounds. They aren’t just big, they are basketball players who are big people.”

Not that Carmody is worried about his duo.

Castello averages a double-double, while Gruber scores around 13 points per game.

“John and Alex are very athletic. I think it should be a fun matchup,” Carmody said. “I think John and Alex will prevent them with some issues.”

Both teams have lit opposing defense up this season.

Mars averages 72 points per game, while Beaver Falls (25-3) averages 70.6.

Carmody doesn’t believe shots will be easy to come by.

“Everyone is so well schooled at playing defense that shots are hard to come by,” Carmody said. “When you do get a good shot, someone gets you rushed.”

Defending Beaver Falls will require Mars to be smart.

Avoiding taking reach-ins and other defense penalties will be key.

“If we’re out of the game, we’re not doing our team any good,” Gruber said. “We avoid jumping for stupid blocks and keep our heads in the game.”

Carmody doesn’t expect to see many weaknesses in the Tigers’ lineup.

He’s worried about everyone

“Once you get this far, you’re not going to see many holes in the lineup,” Carmody said. “Beaver Falls is one of the elite basketball programs in Pennsylvania.”

The Tigers have won at least 20 games in each of the past five seasons, including two WPIAL Class AA titles and one state championship. They are 120-24 over the past five years. The program has won nine WPIAL crowns overall.