HERSHEY — Even a loss in the biggest of games could not drown the sense of accomplishment on the Mars boys basketball team.

The Planets' dream season had an unfitting end Friday night, a 99-66 defeat to Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA Class AAA championship game at the Giant Center.

But Mars coach Rob Carmody's mood following the game was one of positive reflection.

“I told the kids to look at what they've done,” he said. “When I started coaching here (1997-98 season), even some of the parents didn't want to come to the games. Now we have people driving four hours to watch Mars basketball. I want these players to feel nothing but pride.”

“I definitely feel a sense of achievement,” said senior guard Christian Schmitt. “We played on the last possible day of the season and we represented the WPIAL. We just ran into a team that beat us in all facets of the game tonight.”

The Saints have now won three straight state titles and six of the last seven. Their latest championship came with a bit of history as their 99 points broke the PIAA championship game record of 94 (set by Elk Lake in 1977).

The Saints shot 64 percent (9-of-14) from beyond the arc in the first half. Mars (23-7) answered early on as John Castello, Steve Castello and Robby Carmody each made three field goals in the opening quarter. But the Saints began to assert themselves on both ends of the floor late in the period, turning a 21-21 tie into a 29-23 edge.

Mars' deficit reached double figures early in the second quarter when Quade Green and Rasheed Browne hit back-to-back 3-pointers. The Planets would not get within single digits the rest of the game and trailed 53-33 at halftime.

“We were matching them point for point early,” said Coach Carmody, “but we needed to start getting stops and weren't able to do that. The floodgates opened.”

“When that team starts hitting their 3s, they are one of the best teams in the country. Not the state, the country. They can also get to the rim and have a 6-foot-8 kid (Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree) to get the rebounds.”

The treys were a welcome, yet familiar site for Neumann-Goretti coach Carl Arrigale.

“We've had games this year when we hit 13 or 14,” he said. “I thought Mars was a very formidable opponent. They came at us early on tonight, but our run was so quick with those 3s, I don't think they (Planets) even realized it at the time.”

At the other end of the floor, Mars' attack, usually a force in its own right, struggled with several missed layups. That trend continued into the second half and the Planets were unable to cut into the Saint lead, trailing 70-50 after three quarters.

Neumann-Goretti added an exclamation point to the win with a 29-point fourth quarter.

“We aren't a great defensive team, but we're pretty good,” said Coach Carmody. “And this team made us look like we were standing in mud tonight.”

Senior guard Zane Martin led the Saints (27-4) with 33 points, Green scored 25 and Browne added 18.

Senior center John Castello closed out his high school career with yet another double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Robby Carmody scored 20.

Mars lost to Beaver Falls in the WPIAL semifinals less than a month ago, but then reeled off state playoff wins over Clearfield, Strong Vincent, Highlands and Bishop McDevitt to earn this trip to Hershey. It is doubtful any of Mars' players appreciated being part of the playoff run more than senior forward Alex Gruber, who missed most of the regular season with a foot injury.

“I knew when I got back that we had a long playoff run in us,” said Gruber, who scored 10 points Friday. “It meant the world to me to be part of it.”

MARS 66

Aaron Gruber 2 0-0 6, Alex Gruber 4 1-2 10, John Castello 10 0-1 21, Steve Castello 3 0-0 7, Christian Schmitt 0 2-3 2, Robby Carmody 7 5-7 20, Ryan Giallonardo 0 0-1 0, Bailey Trzeciak 0 0-0 0, Sam Morrissey 0 0-0 0, Nate Sablowski 0 0-0 0, Mike Wright 0 0-0 0, Brent Ashbaugh 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 9-14 66.

NEUMANN-GORETTI 99

Vaughn Covington 3 3-4 11, Quade Green 8 5-5 25, Rasheed Browne 8 0-1 18, Zane Martin 14 3-5 33, Noah Warren 1 0-0 3, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree 4 1-2 9, Amir Tyler 0 0-0 0, Dante Vannicola 0 0-0 0, Emil Moody 0 0-0 0 . Totals: 38 12-17 99.

Mars 23 10 17 16 — 66

Neumann-Goretti29 24 17 29 — 99

3-point goals: Mars 6 (Aaron Gruber 2, Alex Gruber, J. Castello, S. Castello, Carmody; Neumann-Goretti 11 (Green 4, Brown 2, Martin 2, Covington 2, Warren)